THE Regional Trial Court Branch 7 in Cebu City has issued a hold-departure order (HDO) against 10 individuals, including the son-in-law of a Cebuano mall tycoon who was recently arrested for syndicated estafa.
The HDO directs the commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and all its immigration officers to stop Derwin Wong and nine others from leaving the country.
“You are hereby ordered to restrain or enjoin the following accused from leaving in all airports and seaports of the Republic henceforth and until further order of this court,” read a portion of the order issued by Judge James Stewart Ramon Himalaloan.
Derwin, the son-in-law of Edmund “Eddie” Gaisano Sr., was arrested in Manila on Thursday, April 11, over the alleged unauthorized trading of a P24-million investment of one of Gaisano’s daughters.
The nine others in the HDO are Wong Chung Yin, also known as David Wong; Derick Wong; Diane Wong; Davidson Wong; Lucy Chua; Juvy Ting; Susan Lu; Beverly Ansay; and Leonardo Marsan. They remain at large.
Derwin, whose family used to run DW Capital Inc. (DWCI), a stock brokerage company, was charged with syndicated estafa by Valerie Gaisano-Sebastian on behalf of her mother Judy Gaisano.
A syndicated or large-scale estafa is a non-bailable offense. (RVC)