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MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was not allowed to leave the country for a medical check-up, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
In a press conference on Tuesday, April 21, Remulla said the camp of Romualdez asked permission if he could leave for a medical check-up in Singapore.
However, he said that the Office of the Ombudsman did not allow the former House speaker to leave due to the existing Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against him.
“We did not respond favorably to the request that he be allowed to leave,” Remulla said.
RELATED: ICI moves for lookout order on Martin, Chiz, Jinggoy, Joel in flood control probe
“Hindi namin siya pinaalis. Hindi namin pinayagan na ma-lift 'yung validity niya kasi nga naka-look out order because we've been investigating him actively. Baka hindi na bumalik eh. You know, we don't want that to happen,” he added.
Romualdez was supposed to leave on Tuesday, according to Remulla.
Remulla also said that the Ombudsman has endorsed a complaint to the Anti-Money Laundering Council as part of a move to issue an asset freeze order on the assets against the former House speaker.
He added that the first case to roll against Romualdez will be about money laundering.
The ILBO was signed by Remulla on Oct. 8, 2025, on his last act as the former secretary of Justice.
Along with Romualdez in the ILBO are now-arrested former lawmaker Zaldy Co, Sen. Francis Escudero, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Former Sen. Bong Revilla Jr., Sen. Joel Villanueva and other government officials and lawmakers.
This is over their involvement in the alleged anomalous flood control projects, where cases involving Co and Revilla are on trial at the Sandiganbayan.
