Romualdez’ bid vs travel ban denied

THE Sandiganbayan denied a motion filed by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez to lift a precautionary hold departure order tied to a multibillion-peso infrastructure corruption investigation, ruling that the plea was both procedurally defective and lacked substantive merit.

In a resolution dated June 1 and made public on Wednesday, the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division said the lawmaker’s motion for reconsideration failed to include the verification required under the court’s rules, which alone warranted the denial of the petition.

Mr. Romualdez had sought travel authority for a “long overdue” follow-up medical consultation in Singapore, regarding an angioplasty procedure, asserting his right to travel and intent to return.

The court, however, found Mr. Romualdez failed to submit supporting medical records or prove that local professionals were incapable of treating his condition.

“The risk of flight cannot be disregarded. Rep. Romualdez has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind the flood control scam,” the anti-graft court said in the resolution written by Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap-Pahimna.

“Given the gravity of the allegations and the severe penalties that may result, including imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of assets, Rep. Romualdez clearly possesses sufficient motive and opportunity to evade the jurisdiction of the authorities should he be allowed to leave the country,” it added.

The ruling maintains the travel restriction as a necessary measure to ensure the legal process proceeds without disruption while the Office of the Ombudsman investigates accusations that the former Speaker influenced the 2025 budget process to facilitate irregular fund collections from flood control infrastructure projects, allegations which the lawmaker has repeatedly denied. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking