The United States government has canceled all previously issued visas for former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, according to Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez.
The ambassador confirmed the development following reports from ABS-CBN News but stated that American authorities gave no reason for the cancellation.
“All I can say is it’s confirmed. I don’t have any details,” Ambassador Romualdez said.
When pressed on whether the decision affected specific types of permits, the envoy—who is a relative of the former House leader—clarified the scope of the revocation.
“All visas issued,” he responded.
The diplomat declined to provide additional commentary. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Manila has kept silent on the issue, aligned with Washington’s standard practice of keeping visa decisions confidential.
The visa cancellations come amid escalating legal and administrative challenges for Romualdez in the Philippines over his alleged ties to a multibillion-peso flood control fund scam. The Sandiganbayan recently rejected his appeal to lift a precautionary travel restriction that prevents him from leaving the country while investigations are active.
The anti-graft court’s Seventh Division previously approved a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) requested by the Office of the Ombudsman in April, as investigators look into a suspected kickback network tied to infrastructure projects.
Despite the probe, Romualdez has not been hit with formal criminal charges.
In his failed petition to remove the travel ban, Romualdez argued that the accusations were baseless, labeling them as “purely on speculation and conjecture.”
He pushed back against the state’s theory that he manipulated the national budget and used intermediaries to collect kickbacks.
Separately, the lawmaker asked the court for temporary clearance to travel to Singapore for a medical follow-up after an angioplasty procedure.
Concurrently, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla revealed that the government is preparing a broader legal offensive, evaluating potential counts of money laundering, conspiracy, and plunder.
Prosecutors originally sought the PHDO by arguing that Romualdez represents a major flight risk due to his financial assets, international connections, and possession of a diplomatic passport.
The Office of the Ombudsman continues to view Romualdez as a central figure in the alleged infrastructure scam, an accusation the former Speaker vehemently denies.