The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 has issued a precautionary hold departure order against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and four former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in connection with alleged anomalies tied to flood control projects.
In a document dated February 10, the court included Estrada, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, former Metro Manila Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, and former Public Works Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara in the order.
The court said there is probable cause to believe the respondents may attempt to leave the Philippines to evade arrest.
“Hereby orders the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to hold the departure from the Philippines of the above-named respondents and to include their names in the hold departure list of the said office,” the order read.
Estrada and the former DPWH officials were named respondents in criminal complaints for graft, plunder, and other offenses filed by the National Bureau of Investigation.