Romualdez camp to contest PHDO

The camp of Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Thursday said the lawmaker remains in the Philippines and will exhaust all legal remedies after reports that the Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against him.

Lawyer-spokesperson Ade Fajardo confirmed the development in a statement, noting that the order was reportedly issued upon the request of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“We acknowledge reports that the Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez upon request of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Fajardo said.

He added that Romualdez’s legal team will challenge the order before proper authorities.

“We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order before the proper forum,” he said.

Fajardo also dismissed speculation that the lawmaker had left the country.

“At the outset, we categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” he said.

According to the camp, Romualdez had complied with all travel requirements for a planned trip abroad, including securing authorization and coordinating with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration for what they described as a brief medical check-up in Singapore.

“Rep. Romualdez followed the proper process. He sought and secured the necessary travel authority, and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration for a brief, long-overdue four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore,” Fajardo said.

He stressed that the lawmaker remains ready to respond to the allegations and will continue to cooperate with legal processes moving forward.