APRIL 23, 2026 — Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez has been barred from leaving the Philippines after the Sandiganbayan issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) on April 22, 2026, following the Ombudsman’s request amid ongoing investigations into alleged plunder and money laundering tied to anomalous flood control projects. The move intensifies scrutiny on one of the country’s most powerful lawmakers, raising questions about privilege, accountability, and the reach of justice.

The Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division ruled that there is “probable cause to believe that respondent (Romualdez) will depart from the Philippines to evade arrest and prosecution of crime/s being charged against him.” His name has now been placed on the Bureau of Immigration’s Hold Departure List. 

This comes after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla warned earlier this month that Romualdez, along with former Senate president Francis “Chiz” Escudero, will face plunder charges in May over the multi-billion-peso flood control “anomalies.”

The allegations are staggering: Romualdez is accused of being the “purported mastermind” behind a kickback scheme tied to ghost flood control projects worth ₱56 billion. Investigators also flagged possible money laundering, with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) expected to freeze his assets.

The defense: “He’s still here”

Romualdez’s lawyer, Atty. Ade Fajardo, insists his client remains in the country and is committed to facing the charges. 

“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,” Fajardo said. 

He added that Romualdez had sought proper travel authority for a four-day medical check-up in Singapore, but this legitimate act was “twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee.”

Romualdez himself released a video statement authorizing the public release of his affidavit and supporting documents, saying, “... so that the Filipino people can judge for themselves.”

Here’s where the story hits home. We all know the hassle of immigration restrictions, yet a powerful lawmaker nearly flew out despite facing serious allegations. 

Ombudsman Remulla bluntly remarked, “When you join the government, you already surrender your right to travel, especially if you’re under investigation.”

This clash between institutions — the House granting travel clearance, the Ombudsman blocking it, and the Sandiganbayan stepping in — exposes the fragile balance between privilege and accountability. For the public, it’s not just about Romualdez’s health or travel rights. It’s about whether the justice system can truly hold the powerful to account.

A PHDO is rare, used only when prosecutors believe someone is a flight risk even before formal charges are filed. If Romualdez, with his influence and resources, can still maneuver around restrictions, what does that say about equal treatment under the law?

Add to this the fact that we have been badly burned by the ongoing saga involving fugitive Zaldy Co, and nobody could really be blamed for feeling suspicious about this.

Romualdez’s case is more than a legal battle — it’s a test of whether institutions can withstand political pressure. Will the PHDO be a turning point in showing that no one, not even the most powerful, is above the law? Or will it become another episode in the long saga of high-profile cases that fade without resolution?

If the powerful can bend the rules to their favor, how can we ever believe that justice will catch up with those who betray public trust?

(Image: Philippine News Agency; Batas PH | Facebook)