Hold departure order issued vs. Rep. Eric Yap, brother Edvic Yap

The Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order against Benguet Representative Eric Yap and his brother, former ACT-CIS party-list congressman Edvic Yap, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said.

Clavano, in a statement, said the anti-graft court granted the Ombudsman’s Verified Ex Parte Application for the Issuance of a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) as provided Rule 8, Section 3 of the 2018 Revised Internal Rules of the Sandiganbayan.

“The issuance of this Precautionary Hold Departure Order shall be without prejudice to any resolution or finding of the Office of the Special Prosecutor in the course of their preliminary investigation,” the Sandiganbayan said in a March 3 resolution.

This means that the Sandiganbayan Second Division decided on the Ombudsman’s Verified Ex Parte Application for the Issuance of a PHDO, which is dated March 2, in less than 24 hours.

In seeking the PHDO, Ombudsman prosecutors cited the Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Resolution that found that the Yap brothers have beneficial ownership, control, and financial interest in Silverwolves Construction, the contractor of the two phases of the alleged unfinished flood control projects in La Union worth P89.7 million each.

This same AMLC Resolution earlier ordered the freezing of the Yap brothers' assets due to their alleged links to the flood control kickback scheme.

“While the respondents Yap were subsequently sought to be included in the complaint [filed by the Department of Public Works and Highways], the Application [for the Issuance of a PHDO] anchors their alleged participation on financial findings cited in a Resolution of the Court of Appeals granting a Freeze Order upon petition of the Anti-Money Laundering Council. The existence of a Freeze Order issued by the Court of Appeals, after judicial evaluation of the AMLC petition, lends additional weight to the seriousness and basis of the allegations,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“As reflected in the Application [by the Ombudsman prosecutors], the AMLC's 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,” it added.

Further, Ombudsman prosecutors cited that AMLC records also revealed that Silverwolves received P16.6 billion worth of deposits from the Department of Public Works and Highways from 2022 to 2025, an amount that is way above the worth of government contracts that Silverwolves Construction got from 2023 to 2025, which only amounted to P3.1 billion.

The anti-graft court, in response, said such huge amounts involved “reflect potential exposure to severe penalties, forfeiture consequences, and the possibility of a facing non-bailable offenses” that require court intervention.

“The greater the potential deprivation of liberty and property, the stronger the temptation to avoid judicial processes. The respondents' positions as an incumbent member and a former member of the House of Representatives indicate access to substantial resources and networks. While public office alone does not equate to flight risk, access to financial means and international mobility are relevant considerations,” the Sandiganbayan said.

“Courts have, in appropriate cases, taken into account an individual's capacity to effectuate departure when assessing the necessity of precautionary restraints. The Court cannot close its eyes to the real and practical possibility that its jurisdiction may be rendered illusory if preventive measures are not seasonably adopted,” the court added.

There is no pending criminal case against the Yap brothers, but Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said back in October 2025 that Congressman Eric Yap is a person of interest in the two phases of the alleged unfinished flood control projects in La Union worth P89.7 million each.

Remulla said the contractor for the La Union project is Silverwolves Construction, and that Eric is a beneficial owner of Silverwolves Construction.

He divested from it a few years ago, supposedly, but there is reason to suspect that he's still the beneficial owner of the company, so there's a clear case of conflict of interest also, punishable also under Republic Act 3019 (Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act),” Remulla said then.

On Tuesday, Clavano said that the Ombudsman’s request for a PHDO is justified.

“A PHDO is requested during the Preliminary Investigation stage to ensure that the respondents, who are considered flight risks, do not leave the jurisdiction. It is precautionary,” Clavano told reporters.

Congressman Eric Yap also served as the House committee on appropriations chairman from 2020 to 2022.

His brother Edvic Yap resigned as a member of the House of Representatives last February 4.

GMA News Online is still trying to get comments from the Yap brothers. — BM, GMA Integrated News