The Manila Times
(UPDATE) THE House of Representatives has allowed former speaker Martin Romualdez to travel to Singapore for medical reasons. “As requested, travel clearance is hereby granted to Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Representative, 1st District, Leyte, in connection with his personal trip to Singapore from April 20 to May 4, 2026,” a travel clearance dated April 20, 2026, from House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil stated. “This clearance is issued predicated upon the Honorable Representative’s commitment to return to the Philippines forthwith following his medical procedure. It is understood that the Representative shall maintain accessibility for any urgent official functions or legal proceedings during his absence,” it said. As of about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, Romualdez was still in the Philippines. In a letter addressed to Speaker Faustino Dy III through Garafil, Romualdez asked for a travel clearance to Singapore from April 20 to May 4, 2026. “I have also written the Department of Justice of my intention to travel, in view of an Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) issued last Oct. 8, 2025,” Romualdez said. “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,” he said. In a press briefing on Tuesday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that “because we have a bulletin, a lookout order with Immigration [...], we did not respond favorably to the request that he be allowed to leave.” Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said in a statement later Tuesday that the immigration lookout bulletin order does not bar 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,” Fajardo said. “This underscores his full compliance with the law and negates any insinuation of flight risk.” Also in the briefing, Remulla said his office endorsed a complaint to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and that his office was waiting for the AMLC to seek a freeze order on Romualdez. Fajardo said the AMLC “must file a formal application before the Court of Appeals, supported by evidence, before any freeze order may be issued.” “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,” he said. Fajardo said that Romualdez “has consistently respected legal processes and will continue to do so.”
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