Romualdez camp to question Hold order

The Manila Times

Romualdez camp to question Hold order  The spokesman of Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez says on April 23, 2026 that his team will question the Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) that would be issued to a client by the Sandiganbayan.  The anti-graft court issued the order on the night, of April 22, 2026 saying that the Office of the Ombudsman finds probable cause for the respondent to fly out the Philippines to evade arrest. The former speaker is being investigated for allegations of plunder, direct bribery and malversation in relation to the flood control scandal. In a statement, lawyer Ade Fajardo said they acknowledged the issuance of the order against his client. Fajardo said that Romualdez followed the proper process by seeking and securing necessary travel authority, and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration. Romualdez, Fajardo said, was looking for a "brief, long-overdue four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore," after his angioplasty surgery.  VIDEO FROM LAWYER ADE FAJARDO  Check out our Streaming Channel: https://streaming.manilatimes.net/  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at [https://www.manilatimes.net](https://www.manilatimes.net/)  Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion  Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #TheManilaTimes #TMTNews #Romualdez #Philippines

Transcript

00:00Good morning, this is Ade Fajardo, a legal practitioner based in Pasig City.

00:06We acknowledge reports that the Sandigan Bayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order

00:13against late Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdes upon request of the Office of the Ombudsman.

00:21At the outset, we clarify.

00:25Representative Romualdes is in the Philippines.

00:30And has not left the country.

00:32Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible.

00:40Representative Romualdes followed the proper process.

00:44He sought and secured the necessary travel authority and coordinated in good faith

00:51with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration

00:56for a brief, long-overdue, four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore.

01:05This is fully consistent with his conduct from the very beginning.

01:10One of cooperation, transparency, and respect for legal processes.

01:17Unfortunately, this legitimate act has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative

01:23that he intended to flee.

01:26We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order

01:34before the proper forum.

01:38Representative Romualdes remains committed to facing these allegations squarely.

01:45Thank you very much.

01:49Thank you very much.

02:15Thank you very much.

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