MANILA, Philippines – A Manila court has issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan, and several other former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials based on a petition filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The order issued by Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 Presiding Judge Juan Rañola Jr. on February 10 also applies to the following:

• Former DPWH undersecretary Roberto Bernardo
• Former DPWH director Gerardo Opulencia
• Former DPWH district engineer Henry Alcantara

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.

The PHDO stemmed from the complaints filed by the National Bureau of Investigation over alleged violation of section 3(e) of Republic Act No. 3019 or Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, plunder, direct bribery, receiving gifts by public officers, and corrupt of public officers.

DOJ spokesperson Prosecutor Polo Martinez, however, clarified that the DOJ’s preliminary investigation into the said complaints are still ongoing.

Estrada has been dragged into the flood control scandal after former DPWH former assistant district engineer Brice Hernandez alleged that the senator channeled P355 million worth of projects to Hagonoy and Malolos, both in Bulacan, in 2025, with a supposed 30% “SOP” or kickback.

The senator, who was also previously tagged in the pork barrel scam, was also included in the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) recommendation to the Office of the Ombudsman as among the officials who should be held liable in the flood control scam.

Bonoan, meanwhile, was also included in an ICI recommendation to the Ombudsman for further investigation.

Alcantara, Bernardo, and Opulencia are state witnesses in the flood control corruption, as previously announced by the DOJ. – Rappler.com