The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday disclosed intelligence information that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly attempted multiple times to leave the country despite being covered by a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO), as it announced that plunder and anti-money laundering complaints against him and former congressman Zaldy Co have entered the preliminary investigation stage.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the anti-graft body had received information that Romualdez was trying to defy the Sandiganbayan-issued PHDO and called on government agencies to ensure that the court order is strictly enforced.

“The Office calls on all relevant agencies to make sure this does not happen,” Clavano said.

Romualdez issues denial

Romualdez denied allegations that he attempted to leave the country, saying he remains in the Philippines and is ready to face the complaints filed against him.

In a statement, Romualdez’s spokesperson and legal counsel, Atty. Elaine Atienza, said the former Speaker has no intention of evading the legal process.

“He remains in the country and will remain in the country until such time that he will be able to clear his name,” Atienza said.

Atienza stressed that the complaints against Romualdez have only been referred for preliminary investigation and that no criminal case has been filed in court.

“The law does not follow the noise of accusations. It merely follows the weight of the evidence,” she said.

She added that the camp has yet to receive a formal copy of the complaint but remains confident Romualdez will clear his name once the evidence is examined.

Preliminary investigation

The alleged attempt to leave surfaced as the Ombudsman formally endorsed for preliminary investigation the complaints for plunder and violation of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) against Romualdez, Co, and several other respondents over the alleged diversion of billions of pesos intended for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) flood control projects.

Clavano described the filing as a “milestone” in the Ombudsman’s months-long investigation but emphasized that the move does not amount to a finding of guilt.

“A complaint for preliminary investigation is not a conviction. It is not, at this stage, a formal charge before a court. It is this Office’s determination that the evidence gathered is substantial enough to warrant a full and formal inquiry into whether or not the case should be filed in court,” he said.

Addressing the claim that the Ombudsman lacked evidence to link Romualdez to the alleged scheme, Clavano said the investigators simply “follow the evidence wherever it leads.”

He said the Ombudsman’s investigation indicated that Romualdez was a “central figure” in the alleged diversion of public funds allocated for flood control projects.

Among the evidence cited were the affidavits of eight of the 18 alleged former “bagmen” of Co, who purportedly provided firsthand accounts of cash deliveries involving the two public figures.

Clavano said the witnesses’ testimonies were corroborated by what he described as an “independent evidentiary trail,” including financial records that tracked the movement of funds through various institutions.

He said investigators also uncovered evidence of an alleged money laundering scheme involving the acquisition of condominium units, investments in various industries, and other transactions purportedly designed to conceal the proceeds of the alleged offenses.

“Records drawn from the Anti-Money Laundering Council, money service businesses, and corporate structures that our investigators allege were used as instruments in this scheme, when read together, tell one story,” Clavano said.

Despite the filing of the complaints for preliminary investigation, Clavano said the Ombudsman’s probe remains ongoing and could result in additional cases as more evidence is gathered.

He also appealed for patience from the public, stressing that the anti-graft body remains committed to due process.