Sandiganbayan issues precautionary hold-departure order against Romualdez

The Sandiganbayan's Fifth Division granted on April 22, 2026 a Precautionary Hold-Departure Order (PHDO) against former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, docketed as SB26PHDO0002. The order was issued in connection with the plunder and graft complaint filed by the Office of the Ombudsman two days earlier on April 20, 2026, which alleged that Romualdez had received approximately P56 billion in kickbacks across the flood control infrastructure scheme. The PHDO restricts Romualdez's ability to leave the country pending the conclusion of preliminary investigation. The hearing was preceded by months of sworn testimony before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), as well as a parallel Anti-Money Laundering Council freeze order issued the following day covering 25 personal bank accounts and 10 insurance policies tied to Romualdez. His counsel stated that he would comply with the order and contest the complaint on the merits.