Ombudsman wants Martin Romualdez’s medical trip abroad blocked

MANILA, Philippines – Former House speaker Martin Romualdez is scheduled to fly to Singapore for a medical procedure, but if it were up to Ombudsman Boying Remulla, the congressman should be prevented from leaving the country.

The Ombudsman has asked Sandiganbayan to issue a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Romualdez, but the anti-graft court has yet to grant its request.

The only legal basis to bar Romualdez from traveling abroad would be a PHDO or a hold departure order, but no court has issued either.

House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil granted Romualdez’s request for a travel clearance on Monday, April 20, upon his commitment that he will return home after his “long overdue follow-up” on his angioplasty surgery.

Romualdez’s travel period is from April 20 to May 4, although his staff said on Tuesday, April 21, that the Leyte 1st District lawmaker is still in the Philippines.

His office released documentary proof of travel clearance after Ombudsman Boying Remulla said earlier Tuesday that the Ombudsman barred Romualdez from leaving the country.

Romualdez’s legal counsel, however, insisted that his client cannot be prevented from leaving the country, because the congressman is only facing an immigration lookout bulletin order.

“We urge caution against drawing conclusions from incomplete or unofficial information. Representative Romualdez has consistently respected legal processes and will continue to do so,” Romualdez’s lawyer Ade Fajardo said in a statement.

Remulla previously announced that his office is preparing to file plunder charges against Romualdez and former Senate president Chiz Escudero over their alleged roles in the flood control corruption scandal.

“The problem there is, it seems too coincidental that Zaldy Co was caught in Europe and then suddenly (Romualdez) plans to leave. Later on, we might have nothing left to hold on to in this country. Everyone we want to hold accountable might just end up beyond our jurisdiction,” Remulla said in Filipino on Tuesday. – with reports from Jairo Bolledo/Rappler.com