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February 18, 2026 | 6:11pm
This undated photo was taken at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.
Philstar.com / Anjilica Andaya
MANILA, Philippines — Individuals covered by the precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) must secure permission from the court before they are allowed to leave the country.
In an ambush interview with reporters on Wednesday, February 18, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida explained that the right to travel is an inherent right of Filipinos and that the Department of Justice.
"Because travel is basically a personal liberty. Karapatan ng bawat Filipino bumiyahe, unless merong court process, or may court order na nagbabawal sayo," Vida said.
(Because travel is basically a personal liberty. Every Filipino has the right to travel, unless there is a court process or a court order prohibiting you from doing so.)
"Kaya ngayon, 'pag biya-biyahe 'yung na-cover ng PHDO, kailangan na nila magpaalam sa korte," he added.
(So now, if those covered by a PHDO are traveling, they need to seek permission from the court.)
According to the Justice chief, the individuals issued by the PHDO are possibly flight risks.
It could be recalled that amid investigations into the flood control corruption, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan left the country for the United States for his wife's medical procedure on Nov. 11, 2025.
He is expected to return on Dec. 17, 2025; however, he returned to the country on January 18.
On February 10, the Manila Regional Trial Court issued a PHDO on Bonoan, Sen, Jinggoy Estrada, former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, and former district engineers Henry Alcantara and Gerard Opulencia.
According to the court order, the complaints involve alleged violations of Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, plunder under Republic Act 7080, and direct bribery and corruption of public officials.
