Jinggoy, Bonoan, others barred from leaving Philippines

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February 17, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A court in Manila has issued an order preliminarily preventing Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan, among others, from leaving the country while investigations linking them to anomalous flood control projects are ongoing.

The Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 52 issued a precautionary hold-departure order against Estrada, Bonoan and former DPWH officials Roberto Bernardo, Henry Alcantara and Gerard Opulencia, who are facing complaints for plunder, violations of Section 3 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and direct bribery and corruption of public officers under the Revised Penal Code.

RTC Judge Juan Rañola Jr. issued the four-page hold-order to the Bureau of Immigration. It was dated Feb. 10, but was given to reporters only yesterday.

It cited “probable cause to believe that respondents will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of the crimes against them.”

Bonoan yesterday claimed he had been allowed to fly to the US to be with his wife when she undergoes a medical procedure.

DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez confirmed that Bonoan filed his counter-affidavit during the preliminary investigation.

Meanwhile, the DPWH has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to include contractor Curlee Discaya in the criminal charges over an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental.