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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Martin Romualdez a flight risk, Ombudsman says

Martin Romualdez a flight risk, Ombudsman says

Published Apr 22, 2026 02:24 pm
Former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (Rep. Romualdez's office)
Former House Speaker Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez (Rep. Romualdez's office)
Former House speaker Martin G. Romualdez “is a flight risk, has means to travel and leave fast, and has access to a diplomatic passport.”
This was how the Office of the Ombudsman justified its plea for the Sandiganbayan to issue a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Romualdez.
The petition was taken up by the anti-graft court on Wednesday, April 22, and Assistant Ombudsman Nellie Golez and Prosecutor Joshua Tan appeared as witnesses.
Given the urgency of the Ombudsman’s plea, the Sandiganbayan is expected to issue its ruling either late today, April 22, or tomorrow, April 23.
The PHDO was sought pending the Ombudsman’s resolution of the plunder and money laundering charges against Romualdez.
The pleading for a PHDO was filed on Tuesday, April 21, 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.
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.
Last 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.
Remulla also 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 also said that Romualdez was supposed to have a medical check-up in Singapore on 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 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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