MANILA, Philippines – Nagbabala ngayon ang kampo ni dating House Speaker at Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez sa mga nagpapalabas at pagkokomento sa mga pahayag na hindi naman opisyal.
Ayon kay Atty. Ade Fajardo, abogado at tagapagsalita ni Romualdez na, “we urge caution against drawing conclusions from incomplete or unofficial information. Rep. Romualdez has consistently respected legal processes and will continue to do so.”
Nauna rito ay lumabas ang sulat ni Romualdez kay House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy upang humingi ng travel clearance patungong Singapore.
Sa kaniyang liham na pinadaan kay House Secretary-General Atty. Cheloy Garafil na may petsang April 20, ang paalam ni Romualdez patungong Singapore ay mula April 20 hanggang May 4, 2026.
Ito aniya ay upang sumailalim siya sa dapat sana ay matagal ng Angioplasty Surgery.
“I respectfully write to request for a travel clearance to Singapore on April 20 – May 4, 2026 to do a long overdue follow-up on my Angioplasty Surgery.”
Nakalagay pa sa liham na si Romualdez ay sumulat din sa Department of Justice dahil sa nakabinbing Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) na iniyu noong October 8, 2025.
“I have also written the Department of Justice of my intention to travel, in view of an Immigration Lookout Bulletin order (ILBO) issued last October 8, 2025.”
Kasabay nito ay nangako si Romualdez na siya ay babalik sa bansa matapos ang pagpapagamot sa Singapore.
“I give my unequivocal assurance that I will return to the Philippines immediately upon completion of my medical engagement and remain accessible for any urgent legislative matters during this period,” ayon pa rin kay Romualdez sa kaniyang liham.
Ipinaliwanag pa ni Atty. Fajardo na wala pang opisyal na pahayag si Ombudsman Crispin Remulla ukol sa balitang ibinasura diumano ang kahiligan sa travel clearnace gayung wala naman aniyang nakasampa laban sa kaniyang kliyente, at itinanggi rin nito ang pag-freeze diumano sa ari-arian ni Romualdez.
“As of this time, we have received no official notice of any such application or order. Any statement suggesting that a freeze order is imminent remains speculative. As to the supposed case, there is no filed charge before the Office of the Ombudsman or any court. Statements about cases ‘being prepared’ do not equate to an actual prosecution,” ayon kay Atty. Fajardo.
Tiniyak din ng abogado na si Romualdez ay haharap at tutugon sa tamang panahon.
“If and when any formal action is taken, we will respond fully and appropriately before the proper forum. Until then, these remain unverified claims, and our client is entitled to the presumption of innocence.”
Pinayagan naman ni House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III si Romualdez na makabiyahe patungong Singapore upang makapagpagamot.
Sa ipinalabas na tugon ni House Secretary-General Atty. Cheloy Garafil na may petsa ring April 20, nakasaad na “As requested, travel clearance is hereby granted to the Honorable Martin Romualdez, Representative, 1st District, Leyte, in connection with his personal trip to Singapore from April 20 – May 4, 2026.”
Ayon pa rin sa tugon ni Atty. Garafil, sinabing pinagbigyan si Romualdez na makapagbiyahe dahil na rin sa pangako ng kongresista na ito ay babalik ng bansa pagkatapos ng medical procedure.
“This clearance is issued predicated upon the Honorable Representative’s commitment to return to the Philippines, forthwith following the medical procedure. It is understood that the Represetnative shall maintain accessibility for any urgent official functions or legal proceedings during his absence,” ayon pa rin sa tugon ng tanggapan ni Atty. Garafil. (Meliza Maluntag)
