HDO issued: Sandiganbayan bars Romualdez from overseas travel
MANILA, Philippines (Updated. First published April 22, 10:29 p.m.) — The Sandiganbayan has granted the Office of the Ombudsman's request for a preliminary hold departure order against Rep. Martin Romualdez (Leyte), effectively barring him from leaving the country.
The Bureau of Immigration confirmed to Philstar.com that the order was issued by the anti-graft court's Seventh Division. This was a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla sought the travel restriction over Romualdez's planned trip to Singapore for a medical procedure.
Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said Thursday, April 23 that the bureau has received the order and included it in their system.
On Monday, April 20, the House of Representatives cleared Romualdez to travel to Singapore for medical treatment.
The travel clearance stated that Romualdez, the former House speaker, was expected to be out of the country until May 4.
But Remulla said Tuesday, April 21, that the Ombudsman did not allow Romualdez to leave.
In its request to the Sandiganbayan, the Ombudsman said Romualdez was implicated in alleged crimes of plunder, direct bribery, violations of Sections 3(a) and 3(b) of Republic Act No. 3019, indirect bribery and money laundering.
The allegations stem from an alleged kickback scheme involving supposedly anomalous flood control projects.
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