MANILA, Philippines – Tanging look out order at hindi hold departure order ang inilabas para kay dating House Speaker at Leyte Rep Martin Romualdez kaya hindi ito pinagbabawalang lumabas ng bansa, ayon sa kanyang abogado na si Atty Ade Fajardo.
Ayon kay Fajardo, ang dapat lamang gawin ng kanyang kliyente ay ipaalam ang kanyang paglabas ng bansa at ang mga detalye ng kanyang biyahe.
Ang pahayag ng kampo ni Romualdez ay kasunud na naging pahayag ni Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla na hindi nila pinayagan na bumiyahe patungong Singapore si Romualdez sa basehang mayroong inendorso na reklamo ang Ombudsman sa Anti Money Laundering Council (AMLC) kung saan inaasahan ang pagpapalabas ng freeze order sa assets ng dating House Speaker.
“First, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is not ‘barred’ from leaving the country. What exists, if any, is an immigration lookout bulletin order, which does not prohibit travel but simply requires prior coordination with authorities. In fact, Rep. Romualdez sought travel authority in all good faith — and this authority has been granted,” paliwanag ni Fajardo.
Batay sa travel request ni Romualdez kay House Speaker Faustino Dy na may petsang April 20 ay humingi ito ng travel clearance para maisagawa sa Singapore ang kanyang follow up check para sa angioplasty procedure.
Ang byahe ni Romualdez ay mula Abril 20 hanggang Mayo 4.
Ang lookout bulletin order laban kay Romualdez ay ipinalabas noong October 8,2025, ito ay hiniling ng Independent Commission for Infrastructure bilang bahagi ng kanilang isinawang imbestigasyon sa flood control projects.
Tinuring ni Atty Fajardo na “speculative” ang pahayag ni Remulla na inaasahan na ang pagpapalabas ng freeze order.
“On the reported request for a freeze order: under the law, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) must file a formal application before the Court of Appeals (CA), supported by evidence, before any freeze order may be issued,” paliwanag ni Fajardo.
Giit ni Fajardo, hanggang ngayon ay wala silang natatanggap na anumang aplikasyon o order.
“Any statement suggesting that a freeze order is imminent remains speculative,” ani Fajardo kung saan wala rin anumang kaso na nakasampa laban sa kanyang kliyente.
“Statements about cases ‘being prepared’ do not equate to an actual prosecution. We urge caution against drawing conclusions from incomplete or unofficial information. Rep. Romualdez has consistently respected legal processes and will continue to do so,” paliwanag ni Fajardo.
“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,” dagdag pa nito.
Matatandaan na una na din nagsabi si Remulla na inihahanda ng Department of Justice(DOJ) ang plunder case laban kay Romualdez at dating Senate President Francis Escudero pagdating ng buwan ng Mayo. Gail Mendoza
