The Sandiganbayan on Thursday ordered Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to submit additional requirements following his request to travel abroad.
The Fifth Division of the anti-graft court, chaired by Associate Justice Gener Gito, directed the senator to provide his full itinerary, hotel booking details, authority to travel, and an affidavit of undertaking. Estrada was given five days to comply.
Earlier, Estrada’s camp asked the court to allow him to travel to Japan from 26 to 31 December, and to Norway, Iceland, and Austria from 5 to 15 January.
The court noted that Estrada is included in an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) request over his alleged involvement in the flood control anomaly.
Estrada is among the high-ranking government officials recommended by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) for the filing of criminal charges in connection with the controversial corruption scandal.
On Wednesday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he had signed a letter requesting the Bureau of Immigration to impose a Foreign Travel Restriction Order on 77 individuals linked to the scandal, including lawmakers and private sector personnel currently under fact-finding investigation. He did not disclose the names on the list, noting the restriction is separate from precautionary hold departure orders sought before the Sandiganbayan for those under preliminary investigation.
Estrada is still facing plunder and graft charges over the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). Following accusations linking him to the flood control scandal, he claimed the allegations are “malicious” and “outright lies.” He also asserted that he is the “most vulnerable” target among senators due to the controversies he has faced in previous years.