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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ombudsman asks Sandiganbayan to issue precautionary HDO vs Romualdez

Ombudsman asks Sandiganbayan to issue precautionary HDO vs Romualdez

Published Apr 21, 2026 07:04 pm
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla (File photo)
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla (File photo)
Ombudsman asks Sandiganbayan to issue PHDO vs Martin Romualdez
By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki
The Sandiganbayan was asked to issue a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) to prevent former House speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country pending the resolution of the plunder and money laundering charges being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman.
The pleading for a PHDO was filed on Tuesday, April 21, before the Sandiganbayan and is lodged with the anti-graft court’s seventh division. It was docketed as E-SB26PHD00002 and denominated as People of the Philippines vs Cong. Ferdinand Martin Gomez Romualdez.
A PHDO is a court-issued order that prevents a respondent in a criminal complaint being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Office of the Ombudsman from leaving the Philippines until the conclusion of the investigation.
It was not known as of posting time what time was the pleading for a PHDO filed by the Ombudsman, and if the Sandiganbayan had acted on the plea.
Last April 6, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that Romualdez and former Senate president Francis “Chiz” Escudero will be charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan for their alleged involvement in the multi-billion-peso flood control “anomalies.”
Remulla said the case will be filed in May this year. He did not give the details of the charges.
Today, April 21, Remulla said his office is waiting for the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to file a freeze order on the assets of Romualdez for alleged money laundering.
In a press briefing, Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman has already endorsed a freeze order before the AMLC.
"We're waiting for the Romualdez cases to start rolling, and the first case would be about money laundering," he said.
He said that Romualdez was supposed to have a medical check-up in Singapore today, April 21.
Since there is an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against Romualdez, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) did not respond favorably to his request, Remulla also said.
However, it was reported that the House of Representatives has granted a travel clearance to Romualdez for a personal trip to Singapore for medical reasons.
The camp of Romualdez, through lawyer Ade Fajardo, said that Romualdez is not “barred” from leaving the country since what was issued was an ILBO that does not prohibit travel abroad with prior coordination with authorities.
Fajardo said that the former speaker sought travel authority and the travel authority has been granted.

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Ombudsman Sandiganbayan Martin Romualdez flood control HOLD DEPARTURE ORDER
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