The Sandiganbayan on Tuesday issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against brothers Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and resigned ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap in relation to the flood control scandal.
A PHDO is a court issuance preventing an individual suspected of a crime from leaving the country.
“Let a Precautionary Hold Departure Order be issued against respondents Representative Eric Go Yap and Edvic Go Yap pursuant to Rule VIII, Section 3 of the 2018 Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan, in relation to A.M. No. 18-07-05-SC,” the Sandiganbayan’s 2nd Division said in an order dated March 3.
The Office of the Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor earlier applied for a PHDO against the Yap brothers over their “possible participation” in malversation of public funds and alleged violation of the Anti-Graft Corrupt Practices Act.
This was based on a Department of Public Works and Highways complaint filed with the Ombudsman on Oct. 23, 2025, against 13 officials of the department’s La Union 2nd District Engineering Office, Silverwolves Construction Corporation, and other unnamed parties.
“As reflected in the Application, the AMLC’s (Anti–Money Laundering Council) preliminary financial investigation allegedly uncovered substantial fund transfers from Silverwolves Construction Corporation to personal accounts of Edvic Yap, affiliated business entities, and to Eric Yap, as well as significant reciprocal transactions with corporations reportedly linked to the Yap family,” the Sandiganbayan explained.
