Ombudsman blocks Romualdez departure

Asset freeze also sought

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is seeking a freeze order on the bank accounts and assets of former speaker Martin Romualdez as part of a possible money laundering case being readied against the lawmaker.

At a press briefing, Remulla also said he rejected Romualdez’s request to be allowed to travel to Singapore for five days for a medical checkup. However, Speaker Faustino Dy III granted a similar request from Romualdez – covering April 20 to May 4 – supposedly for a follow-up check-up on an angioplasty procedure.

Remulla said his office has already endorsed a complaint to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to kickstart an investigation on Romualdez for alleged money laundering involving government infrastructure projects.

The ombudsman is waiting for the AMLC to file for the issuance of a freeze order before the Court of Appeals (CA).

“He’s being investigated for money laundering. That’s why we’re seeking a freeze order, so we can secure assets that rightfully belong to the nation,” Remulla said in Filipino, referring to Romualdez.

The ombudsman said he “did not respond favorably” to Romualdez’s request because government officials are supposed to surrender their right to travel abroad if they are under investigation.

He also cited an immigration lookout bulletin order issued against Romualdez after he was tagged in the flood control controversy.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed the filing of a petition with the Sandiganbayan for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Romualdez, but his office “hasn’t received any decision yet.”

“While the cases are pending before the Office of the Ombudsman, the teams find it necessary to seek this remedy so as not to jeopardize the cases. They do not want the respondent to abscond and evade office processes,” Clavano said in a statement.

Based on the anti-graft court’s website, the Seventh Division is handling the petition.

“He can have his checkup here, after all we also have good doctors here. We did not allow the lifting of the lookout bulletin because we’ve been investigating him actively. He might not come back. We don’t want that to happen,” Remulla told a press briefing.

‘Coincidental’

He said he was just being cautious, considering that Romualdez made the request after reports came out that fugitive lawmaker Zaldy Co was held in Prague for lack of proper travel documents.

Co is at the center of the investigation on anomalies in flood control projects.

“It was very coincidental that after Zaldy Co was arrested in Europe, Romualdez would suddenly want to leave the country. We might end up with nothing here. Everyone that we’re trying to hold to account just gets away from our jurisdiction. We’re just being careful. We’re just protecting our rights. Filipinos have the right to ask him not to leave at the moment,” he explained.

He recalled that in November last year, he issued an order restricting 77 individuals, including high-ranking government officials and members of Congress, from undertaking foreign trips while under investigation over the flood control scandal.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI), meanwhile, has no record of Romualdez’s departure. “As of this time, Rep. Martin Romualdez has no recorded attempt to depart the country,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said.

No travel ban

In a statement, Romualdez’s lawyer-spokesman Ade Fajardo clarified that the Leyte lawmaker is “not barred from leaving the country.”

“What exists, if any, is an immigration lookout bulletin order, which does not prohibit travel but simply requires prior coordination with authorities,” Fajardo said.

“In fact, Rep. Romualdez sought travel authority in all good faith – and this authority has been granted. This underscores his full compliance with the law and negates any insinuation of flight risk,” he said in a statement.

“Second, on the reported request for a freeze order: under the law, the Anti-Money Laundering Council must file a formal application before the Court of Appeals, supported by evidence, before any freeze order may be issued,” Fajardo added.

“As of this time, we have received no official notice of any such application or order. Any statement suggesting that a freeze order is imminent remains speculative,” he maintained.

“We urge caution against drawing conclusions from incomplete or unofficial information. Rep. Romualdez has consistently respected legal processes and will continue to do so,” Fajardo said.

“If and when any formal action is taken, we will respond fully and appropriately before the proper forum. Until then, these remain unverified claims, and our client is entitled to the presumption of innocence,” he said.

The House’s document clearing Romualdez’s travel was issued by secretary-general Cheloy Garafil’s office “by authority of the Speaker.”

“This clearance is issued predicated upon the Representative’s commitment to return to the Philippines forthwith following his medical procedure. It is understood that he shall maintain accessibility for any urgent official functions or legal proceedings during his absence,” read the single-page document with the letterhead of the secretary-general’s office. — Delon Porcalla, Jose Rodel Clapano, Evelyn Macairan, Rudy Santos