The Sandiganbayan Sixth Division convened a closed-door session on Monday to deliberate on a request to prevent former Senate President Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu from departing the country.
The Office of the Ombudsman is seeking a preliminary hold departure order as it investigates an alleged ₱1.4-billion flood control kickback scheme.
Associate Justice Sarah Fernandez, who chairs the division, directed all non-essential parties to vacate the courtroom.
She explained that the ex parte nature of the application—a legal request made by one party without the presence of the opposition—required strict confidentiality to protect the integrity of the investigation.
“Aside from being ex-parte, we are considering the evidence to be presented and witnesses to be questioned will have to have a certain degree of confidentiality… The court is worried there may be spoilage of evidence if the hearing is open to everyone,” Fernandez stated.
While acknowledging the public and media interest in the high-profile case, the court maintained that the prosecution’s evidence is not yet suitable for public consumption, given that formal criminal charges have not been filed.
However, the Justice assured that the court’s final ruling on the motion would be released to the public once it is signed.
The Ombudsman’s application suggests that Escudero could potentially face serious charges, including:
- Plunder
- Graft and Corrupt Practices
- Indirect Bribery
The controversy stems from testimony provided by former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo during a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing. Bernardo alleged that in 2024, Ngu requested a list of infrastructure projects specifically for Escudero. The projects, reportedly spanning Valenzuela, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, and Quezon City, were allegedly tied to a 20% “commitment fee” for the senator.
Furthermore, Bernardo claimed to have personally delivered massive sums of cash to Escudero at Ngu’s Manila office—specifically ₱160 million in one instance, followed by another ₱120 million in 2025.
Escudero’s camp has consistently denied any involvement in the alleged scheme, maintaining his innocence against the accusations.