By Lane Afable, News Editor
The Sandiganbayan 6th Division on Monday issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu, preventing them from leaving the country.
This as the anti-graft court granted the verified ex parte motion of the Office of the Ombudsman which cited complaints of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery as the basis for the PHDO.
“Today, April 27, 2026, the Sixth Division of the Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order against Senator Francis Joseph ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Maynard Siy Ngu,” the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division order stated.
A PHDO is a court order directing the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to prevent any attempt by a person suspected of a crime punishable by a minimum penalty of at least six years and one day from leaving the country.
The resolution is based on the finding that there is a high likelihood that the respondent will flee the country, and does not determine the respondent’s guilt.
