Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is still in the Philippines, according to his lawyer and spokesperson Ade Fajardo on Thursday.
In a statement, Romualdez’ camp acknowledged the precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) issued by the Sandiganbayan despite getting clearance from House Speaker Bojie Dy to travel to Singapore for a ‘long-overdue’ four-day medical check-up.
‘At the outset, we categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,’ Fajardo stressed.
‘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,’ he added.
The Sandiganbayan issued the PHDO on Romualdez on Wednesday night, after a request by the Office of the Ombudsman to keep the ex-House leader in the country amid an investigation into his alleged involvement in the 2025 budget mess and the infrastructure corruption scandal.
‘Unfortunately, [Romualdez’ travel to Singapore] has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee,’ Fajardo maintained.
‘We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order before the proper forum,’ he added.
The PHDO stemmed from a complaint-affidavit filed last Monday by the Ombudsman’s special panel of investigators to its Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office (PAMO).
In a statement on Wednesday, Fajardo said of the purported complaint, ‘We have not received any official copy of the alleged complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman.’
He added that their camp categorically and unequivocally denied any wrongdoing; and stressed that Romualdez ‘acted at all times within the bounds of [the] law.’
‘We expect due process to be observed. Once formally furnished, we will respond fully before the proper forum,’ Fajardo also said.