The Sixth Division of the Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Senator Francis Joseph Chiz Escudero and a private individual today, April 27, 2026. Based on the document released by the anti-graft court, the court directed the Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration to prevent the said respondents from leaving the Philippines.
Aside from the senator, the hold departure list also includes an individual identified as Maynard Siy Ngu. In the application, Escudero is listed as a Senator, while Ngu is listed as a Private Citizen.
This directive stems from a Verified Ex Parte Application for the Issuance of a Precautionary Hold Departure Order filed with the Sixth Division of the court. The Sandiganbayan typically issues such a measure as a precaution to ensure that individuals who may be facing preliminary investigations or complaints remain within the jurisdiction of the country.
For now, the official statement from the camp of Senator Escudero and Ngu regarding the issued order is still awaited, as well as confirmation from the Bureau of Immigration on the immediate implementation of the said PHDO.
