Precautionary hold departure order issued vs Jinggoy Estrada, ex-DWPH chief Bonoan

2026-02-16 - 10:56

MANILA, Philippines – A Manila court has issued a precautionary hold departure order against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan, and several other former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials in relation to the flood control mess. The order issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Presiding Judge Juan Rañola Jr. also applies to former public works officials Roberto Bernardo, Gerard Opulencia, and Henry Alcantara. The five are the respondents in a plunder complaint filed by the National Bureau of Investigation before the Department of Justice, stemming from alleged anomalous flood control projects. The DOJ began its preliminary investigation into the case on February 2. In issuing the order dated February 10 — and was made available on Monday, February 16 — Rañola said “there is probable cause to believe that respondents will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of the crimes against them.” The court ordered the Bureau of Immigration to include the names of the respondents in the agency’s Hold Departure List. – Rappler.com