The Sandiganbayan Third Division yesterday issued a hold departure order (HDO) against former Vice President Jejomar Binay, his son Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay, and 19 others who are all involved with the anomalous transactions of the P2.28 billion Makati City Hall parking building.
Because of the order, the Binays and others are prohibited from leaving the country unless the anti-graft court grants them approval to do so.
In the order, Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang has directed the Bureau of Immigration commissioner to immediately include all of the names of the accused in the Hold Departure List.
The Sandiganbayan wants to “preserve and maintain the effectiveness of its jurisdiction over the cases” and therefore issued the hold departure order.
The elder Binay is facing nine counts of falsification of public documents, one count of malversation, and four counts of graft. On the other hand, his son was slapped with eight criminal charges this February (two graft counts and six for falsification of public documents), and the new charges against him include two more counts of graft and one count of malversation. (Czarina Nicole Ong)
