MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Seventh Division issued a precautionary Hold Departure Order (HDO) against former speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
The Office of the Ombudsman had filed the Verified Ex Parte Application for the Issuance of a Precautionary Hold Departure Order before the Sandiganbayan and it was raffled off on, Tuesday to the said court division.
On Wednesday, the court heard the application which was later submitted for resolution.
There is no case filed in the Sandiganbayan against Romualdez who is the congressional representative of Leyte's first district.
"This Application is anchored on the Complaint-Affidavit" dated Apr. 20, 2026 filed by the Ombudsman's Special Panel of Investigators, as nominal complainant, before the Ombudsman's Preliminary Investigation, Administrative Adjudication and Monitoring Office against, among others, Romualdez for, among others, alleged plunder.
The Ombudsman said the complaints involved "the alleged kickback scheme tied to flood control projects, purportedly masterminded by the respondent, with the total amount of such kickbacks reaching approximately PhP56B."
Mentioned in the application were former lawmaker Elizaldy Co's statements in video recordings as well as Orly Guteza's testimony.
Romualdez has said, "I have never authorized, instructed, or allowed anyone to engage in any conduct that would betray the people or taint my name".
He has reiterated that he never received any alleged kickback in any infrastructure project.
