Metro Manila, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has barred former House Speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country through a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) pending an investigation on his possible involvement in the flood control scandal.
A high ranking official from the anti-graft court told NewsWatch Plus that the court’s seventh division approved the ombudsman application.
“The above-entitled application having been filed against the respondent…and appears to the satisfaction of the court after examining under oath the witnesses of applicant Office of the Ombudsman, through the Office of the Special Prosecutor, and the supporting complaint-affidavit, that there is probable cause to believe that respondent will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of crime/s being charged against him,” the document read.
The pending case involves plunder, direct bribery, graft, indirect bribery, and money laundering.
The court directed the Bureau of Immigration to bar Romualdez from leaving the country.
The Sandiganbayan may issue a PHDO to “prevent any attempt by a person suspected of a crime to depart from the Philippines,” which may be filed by the Ombudsman upon a “preliminary determination of probable cause based on the complaints and attachments.”
The ombudsman has yet to file a formal case against Romualdez. Ombudsman Boying Remulla earlier said his office is preparing a case against the former speaker and former Senate President Chiz Escudero.
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure asked the ombudsman to further investigate Romualdez and determine whether he is liable for irregularities hounding flood control projects.
Romualdez still in PH
In a statement, the lawyer of Romualdez said the Leyte lawmaker remains in the country.
House Speaker Bojie Dy earlier cleared Romualdez to leave the country for his medical procedure.
“Rep. Romualdez followed the proper process. He sought and secured the necessary travel authority, and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration for a brief, long-overdue four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore,” Ade Fajardo, spokesperson and counsel for Romualdez, said.
“This is fully consistent with his conduct from the very beginning, one of cooperation, transparency, and respect for legal processes. Unfortunately, this legitimate act has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee,” he added.
Fajardo said his client will avail of proper remedies to question the PHDO.
Romualdez previously denied that he masterminded the multibillion-peso scam, saying he will not be the fall guy “for other people’s corruption.”
