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Composite: Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez speaks a video message on April 21, 2026, and the Sandiganbayan building in Quezon City.
Romualdez office, Philstar.com screenshot; Wikimedia Commons
MANILA, Philippines — 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 order was issued by the anti-graft court's Seventh Division, a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla sought the travel restriction over Romualdez's planned trip to Singapore for a medical procedure.
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.
