Gov’t execs facing plunder case can still go abroad – Ombudsman

Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Government officials facing plunder and graft charges over the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam can still travel outside the country.

Since the Sandiganbayan has not issued yet a hold departure order against ‎those criminally charged, the office of the Ombudsman said Tuesday they are allowed freely to travel.

‎”The respondents can travel unless the Sandiganbayan releases a hold departure order,” Assistant Ombudsman Asryman Rafanan said in a press briefing.

‎Earlier Tuesday, the Office of the Ombudsman said it found probable cause to file plunder and graft charges against senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. and alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Aside from the Napoles and her cohorts in the Senate, a number of government staff and officers were allegedly involved in the criminal charges.

Aides of Senators Enrile and Estrada, Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes and Pauline Labayen, respectively, are currently out of the country.

But Rafanan said, the Office of the Ombudsman will “exert effort” to get hold of the respondents of the case.

Meanwhile, the assistant Ombudsman said the second batch of Priority Development Assistance Fund cases are still ‎pending in their office.

“The office is doing its best to speedily and judicially resolve these cases especially after this first set of complaints have been released already,” he said.