Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Kaxandra Salonga

Job Manahan

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177683559346420250917-house-of-rep-romualdez-steps-down-MT18.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Then Speaker Martin Romualdez delivers a speech, September 17, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File<br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Sandiganbayan said on Wednesday that the Office of the Ombudsman’s application for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has been submitted for resolution.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/-baka-hindi-bumalik-ombudsman-did-not-respond-favorably-on-romualdez-s-request-1600">Romualdez gets House OK for Singapore trip despite Ombudsman remark — lawyer</a></div><p>The anti-graft court conducted a hearing on the Ombudsman’s PHDO application, which was raffled Tuesday to its Seventh Division chaired by Associate Justice Lorifel Pahimna.</p><p>During the hearing, Assistant Ombudsman Nellie Golez maintained that Romualdez is a flight risk, and that the application is warranted by a preliminary finding of probable cause against the former House Speaker.</p><p>In a verified ex parte application, the prosecution noted that Romualdez has access to a diplomatic passport, extensive international contacts, and the means to travel quickly.</p><p>He was also described as the alleged mastermind of a kickback scheme linked to anomalous flood control projects.</p><p>The court asked why the PHDO request covers only Romualdez and not his alleged associates, including Joselito Paras, who was named in a Senate witness testimony as the reported owner of a Forbes Park, Makati residence allegedly used as a “drop-off” point for kickbacks.</p><p>Deputy Special Prosecutor Omar Sagadal said Romualdez was prioritized due to reports he may travel to Singapore for a medical checkup.</p><p>He added that a PHDO request against Paras would follow.</p><p>The Ombudsman’s counter-affidavit implicates Romualdez in alleged offenses including plunder, graft, bribery, and money laundering in connection with the flood control scheme.</p><p>It cited public statements by former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co that seemingly named Ferdinand Martin Romualdez as the “mastermind” of the scheme, along with sworn testimonies from alleged former Philippine Marines members and Orly Guteza describing the alleged delivery of cash to Romualdez.</p><div><br/></div><div><span style="background-color:transparent"><strong>&#x27;IT IS WHAT IT IS&#x27;</strong></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Wednesday said it is taking the House’s issuance of travel clearance to Romualdez “as it is,” just as he declined to comment on the lawmaker’s statements that urged his office to follow the evidence instead.</p><p>Remulla on Tuesday afternoon said they already asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to freeze the former House speaker’s assets, as their office launched an investigation into alleged money laundering.</p><p>Hours after the Ombudsman’s statement, Romualdez said he would not allow himself to become a “scapegoat so that others who are actually accountable can walk away clean.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/romualdez-says-he-will-not-allow-myself-to-be-turned-into-scapegoat-in-flood-control-mess-1825">Romualdez says he won&#x27;t be ‘scapegoat’ in flood control mess, tells Ombudsman to ‘follow evidence’</a></div><p>Remulla in response said he won’t comment on the lawmaker’s statements.</p><p>Asked by reporters meanwhile what he thinks of the House Speaker’s approval of Romualdez&#x27;s trip to Singapore for his medical check-up, Remulla said, “it is what it is” but reiterated his reservations.</p><p>“Hindi kami pumapayag. Sinasabi ko [siya ay] under investigation,” he said in a chance interview with reporters.</p><p>Romualdez&#x27;s lawyer Ade Fajardo maintained that the lawmaker is &quot;not &#x27;barred&#x27; from leaving the country&quot; and an immigration lookout bulletin order &quot;does not prohibit travel but simply requires prior coordination with authorities.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATORS URGE ROMUALDEZ TO SPEAK UP</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Senators meanwhile urged Romualdez to come clean about what he knows on the flood control scandal.</p><p>For Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chair Panfilo Lacson, Romualdez missed the chance to address the allegations when he passed on the 2 invitations of the panel to face its investigation. </p><p>Romualdez skipped the hearings last Nov. 14 and Jan. 19.</p><p>&quot;The Blue Ribbon Committee gave the former Speaker at least two chances through official invitations to testify under oath and public scrutiny to what may be his strong argument against allegations of masterminding the ‘mangling beyond recognition’ of the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference, which he now claims to have been made by only two people - then SP (Senate President Francis) Chiz Escudero and ex Cong and House Appropriations Chairman (Elizaldy) Zaldy Co,&quot; Lacson said in a post on X.</p><p>Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito urges Romualdez to talk. </p><p>&quot;Sabihin na lang siguro kung ano yung nalalaman talaga.&quot;</p><p>Ejercito believes it would be better for Romualdez, former House Appropriations Committee chair Zaldy Co and even the 18 former soldiers who claimed to have delivered cash in suitcases to face off before the Senate. </p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><br/><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jGQ-KZ0cXp8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tPSTWJ4eGmE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Sandiganbayan said on Wednesday that the Office of the Ombudsman’s application for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has been submitted for resolution.</p>

The Sandiganbayan said on Wednesday that the Office of the Ombudsman’s application for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has been submitted for resolution.

Travel ban request vs Romualdez submitted for Sandiganbayan resolution

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Travel ban request vs Romualdez submitted for Sandiganbayan resolution

Kaxandra Salonga,

Job Manahan,

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 22, 2026 01:35 PM PHT

Read More:

PHDO

hold departure

Romualdez

plunder

Ombudsman Remulla

Ombudsman

Office of the Ombudsman

Martin Romualdez

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