Manila court issues precautionary hold departure order vs Estrada, Bonoan, others in flood control scandal
A precautionary hold departure order has been issued against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, and three other officials linked to anomalous flood control corruption.
The order from the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 52 prevents Estrada, Bonoan, and ex-DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara, and Gerard Opulencia from leaving the country while investigations into the scandal are ongoing.
"There is probable cause to believe that respondents will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of the crimes against them here," the court said.
The officials face complaints for plunder, violations of Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corruption Practices Act, and direct bribery and corruption of public officers before the Department of Justice.
According to a Philippine STAR report, the order comes after Bonoan claimed he was allowed to fly to the US amid investigations.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez told reporters that the precautionary HDO does not mean that the pending cases for plunder before the DOJ have already been resolved.
"By the term precautionary, ibig sabihin niyan, bago pa po ma-file formally ang kaso in court, nag-issue na po 'yung judge... of the order anticipating that the respondents in these plunder cases before the DOJ may evade arrest," he said, as per GMA News.
Estrada was named by former DPWH engineer Brice Hernandez as among the senators allegedly involved in kickback schemes in Bulacan. The senator has since denied the claims and filed perjury charges against Hernandez in December 2025. The DOJ junked the case due to a lack of evidence.
Bonoan, meanwhile, resigned as DPWH chief in August 2025 and was replaced by former Transportation secretary Vince Dizon. (with reports from Ghio Ong)
