The Office of the Ombudsman has formally petitioned the Sandiganbayan to issue a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) against former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, citing ongoing investigations into alleged plunder and money laundering.
The petition, docketed as E-SB26PHD00002, was filed Tuesday, April 21, before the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division. If granted, the PHDO would legally bar Romualdez from leaving the country while the preliminary investigation into his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects remains pending.
The move follows Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s April 6 announcement that both Romualdez and Senator Chiz Escudero would face plunder charges, with formal filings expected this May.
Remulla also confirmed coordination with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding Romualdez’s finances.
“The Office of the Ombudsman has already endorsed a freeze order before the AMLC,” Remulla stated, adding that they are awaiting the council’s action on assets allegedly linked to money laundering.
Romualdez’s legal counsel, Ade Fajardo, maintained that the former Speaker retains his right to travel, clarifying that only an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) has been issued.
“The former speaker 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 explained.
He added that Romualdez has already secured the necessary travel authority from proper channels.
A PHDO is a relatively new judicial mechanism designed to prevent subjects of high-level investigations from departing the Philippines before a warrant of arrest can be issued.
As of press time, the Sandiganbayan has yet to release a resolution on the Ombudsman’s request.