The Sandiganbayan has concluded the closed-door hearing on the ex-parte application for the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Senator Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu on April 27, 2026. 

According to Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, the hearing was made private to avoid compromising the hearing, especially since the application is ex-parte or no participation from the respondents. This is not yet considered a trial, as no charges have been filed in court. This remains a motion, ensuring that Escudero and Ngu will not leave the country.

The court has officially issued the PHDO against the two, placing them in the Hold Departure List of the Bureau of Immigration (BI), meaning this restricts them from leaving the country while the investigation against them is ongoing. 

The senator and the businessman are under investigation by the Ombudsman due to alleged involvement in a flood control scandal. Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo previously tagged Escudero for allegedly receiving kickbacks from the infrastructure project, while Ngu is the alleged bagman.

Both Escudero and Ngu have denied the allegations.

Based on the motion submitted by the Ombudsman to the Sandiganbayan, the two could potentially face violations of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery.

With reports from Evan Alvarez