Sandiganbayan Upholds Hold Departure Order on Romualdez, Rejects Medical Travel Request to Singapore

The Sandiganbayan 7th Division denied Martin Romualdez’s motion to lift his precautionary hold departure order in a 12-page resolution made public on June 3, 2026. Associate Justice Lorifel Lacap Pahimna, chairperson of the division, wrote the ruling, with Associate Justices Georgina Hidalgo and Hans Chester Nocom concurring.

” The court approved the Office of the Ombudsman’s request for the PHDO on April 22, 2026.

Romualdez faces complaints for plunder, graft, money laundering, and direct and indirect bribery. The complaints remain at the preliminary investigation stage, and the Ombudsman has identified him as the purported mastermind of a kickback scheme in flood control projects valued at around P56 billion. In his motion, Romualdez argued that the PHDO infringed his constitutional right to travel.

He stated that the complaints failed to establish probable cause because no preliminary investigation had occurred and that no evidence showed a high probability of flight. He also sought travel authority for a medical consultation in Singapore for angioplasty, which he described as long overdue, and formally wrote the Bureau of Immigration through the Department of Justice to inform them of his intended short trip and assure his prompt return.

The Sandiganbayan ruled that the Ombudsman may seek a PHDO before a preliminary investigation when sufficient evidence, probability of guilt, and high probability of flight exist.

The court found that Romualdez failed to prove the necessity of overseas travel, did not submit supporting medical records such as a medical abstract or confirmed schedule, and did not demonstrate that local physicians could not treat his condition.

“Even assuming that Rep. Romualdez is indeed suffering from a medical condition, he presented no evidence showing that his illness is urgent or that it constitutes an immediate medical emergency requiring treatment abroad,” the resolution stated.

The court added that his failure to provide a detailed travel itinerary cast doubt on the trip’s legitimacy. “Finally, the risk of flight cannot be disregarded. Rep. Romualdez has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind the flood control scam.

Given the gravity of the allegations and the severe penalties that may result, including imprisonment, fines, and forfeiture of assets… [Representative] Romualdez clearly possesses sufficient motive and opportunity to evade the jurisdiction of the authorities should he be allowed to leave the country,” the resolution stated.