Metro Manila, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has barred former House Speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country after granting a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) amid an investigation linking him to 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’s 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.
NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the camp of Romualdez.
The Leyte lawmaker earlier denied that he masterminded the multi-billion scam, saying he will not be the fall guy “for other people’s corruption.”
