The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez challenging a plunder investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman.
In a resolution issued following its full court session on Wednesday, November 4, the high court ruled that the petition is now moot. The dismissal comes after formal plunder charges were already filed against Romualdez at the Sandiganbayan, where he has since been arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty.
The court also denied Romualdez’s request for a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to halt the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation.
The legal proceedings stem from a case filed by the Ombudsman on September 7, implicating Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, and two others in an alleged ₱7.4-billion kickback scheme involving government flood-control and infrastructure projects.
The other co-accused were identified by the Ombudsman as Jocelyn Sereño, a member of Romualdez’s household staff, and money changer Felecito Guevarra.
The plunder case has been assigned to the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division, chaired by Associate Justice Karl Miranda.
Because plunder is a non-bailable offense under Philippine law, Romualdez is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City.