Precautionary hold departure order issued against Martin Romualdez by Sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has barred the former Speaker, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, from leaving the country after it issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO), a court source said on Wednesday.

The Seventh Division of the anti-graft court issued the PHDO a day after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it sought the order, as Romualdez is being investigated over complaints for alleged plunder, direct bribery, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, indirect bribery, and money laundering.

Earlier on Wednesday, Romualdez's lawyer said their camp expected due process to be observed after a complaint was filed against him for alleged plunder and money laundering, among other charges.  

In a statement, Atty. Ade Fajardo said Romualdez has yet to receive an official copy of the complaint from the Office of the Ombudsman. 

“That said, we categorically and unequivocally deny any and all allegations of wrongdoing. Former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has acted at all times within the bounds of law,” Fajardo said.  

“We expect due process to be observed. Once formally furnished, we will respond fully before the proper forum,” he added.  
As regards the allegations against him, Romualdez said in a video statement on Tuesday that he was authorizing the release of the affidavit he submitted and all supporting information "so that the Filipino people can judge for themselves."

'Surrender right to travel'

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday that he denied Romualdez's request to travel to Singapore on April 21 for a medical check-up. 

Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III had issued a travel authority to the former Speaker.

“Romualdez was supposed to have a check-up in Singapore, but they were trying to ask us to allow him to leave. But because we have a bulletin, a lookout order with Immigration [bureau] about those who are under investigation, we did not respond favorably to the request that he be allowed to leave,”  Remulla said. 

“Actually, they were burning the lines yesterday and up to this morning. I held my ground. I said, when you join the government, you already surrender your right to travel, especially to another jurisdiction, especially if you're under investigation. Baka hindi na bumalik eh (He might not return),” he added in the interview on Tuesday.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said complaints against Romualdez were pending before the Ombudsman, and the teams found it necessary to seek the PHDO "so as not to jeopardize the cases.”

“They do not want the respondent to abscond and evade office processes. Based on the details on the Sandiganbayan website, the Ombudsman’s request for PHDO on Romualdez was raffled to the Seventh Division today, April 21,” he added.

The Ombudsman also sought the freezing of the assets of Romualdez over alleged money laundering. 

“We are waiting on AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Committee) to file a freeze order on Martin Romualdez. We already endorsed the complaint to them,” Remulla said.

“We're waiting for the Romualdez cases to start rolling. And the first case would be about money laundering,” he added. –NB, GMA Integrated News