November 27, 2025 | 8:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has requested the Bureau of Immigration to impose a foreign travel restriction order on 77 officials and private individuals who are subject to a fact-finding investigation concerning the alleged anomalous flood control projects.
Remulla announced this in a press conference on Wednesday, November 26, saying that the imposition of travel restrictions will involve lawmakers and contractors.
“Basta under investigation ka, you’re part of government. You should not be traveling and leaving this jurisdiction,” Remulla said.
(As long as you are under investigation, you are part of the government. You should not be traveling and leaving this jurisdiction.)
Remulla noted that this travel restriction request is separate from the Precautionary Hold Departure Orders (PHDO) previously issued by the Sandiganbayan.
He explained that the earlier PHDOs specifically targeted officials involved in the alleged anomalous flood control projects, covering both individuals already under government custody and those still at large.
“Remember, when you join government when we join government, we surrender that power already to the right to travel because every time we travel, even for personal or official capacity, we have to get a travel authority,” Remulla said.
“It’s understood. That’s why we’re telling these people who are under investigation not to leave the country,” it added.
On November 21, the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant for Zaldy Co and 15 other co-accused.
They are facing criminal charges related to an allegedly anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
The specific charges against Co and the others include violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019), along with the malversation of public funds achieved through the falsification of public documents.
On Monday, November 24, law enforcement authorities announced that eight out of the 16 individuals implicated are now in custody.
