Philippines – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has flatly turned down former House Speaker Martin Romualdez demand for a public apology, holding its ground on reports that he tried to leave the country while facing a court-imposed travel ban.
According to a statement from the Bureau of Immigration, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado refused to retract the agency’s earlier disclosure after Romualdez legal team pushed for a formal walk-back. The lawyers wanted the BI to apologize, reveal its source, and name the officials who cleared the statement. Viado did none of that.
What the BI Said
Viado made clear the agency would not back down. He said the Bureau responded to media questions using information it had on hand at the time, and denied spreading anything fabricated.
- The reported trip never happened.
- The BI withheld flight details, booking records, and the identity of its source.
- Viado rejected claims that the agency acted in bad faith.
“The Bureau respectfully rejects the allegation that it disseminated false or fabricated information,” Viado said.
Romualdez camp branded the report false and floated the possibility of legal action against the agency.
Why He Can’t Leave the Country
The dispute matters because Romualdez is under a precautionary hold departure order issued by the Sandiganbayan on April 22. That order came after the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause tying him to serious criminal complaints.
The anti-graft court later shot down his attempt to lift the restriction, leaving the travel ban in place.
Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said his office received word that Romualdez tried to exit despite the order. The BI backed this up, confirming it too got reports of travel plans that fell through. His lawyers denied he took any step to dodge the proceedings, and Romualdez has insisted he will answer the charges directly.
The Bigger Case
The clash unfolds as an Ombudsman special panel presses a 104-page supplemental complaint. It accuses Romualdez, former lawmaker Zaldy Co, and other respondents of running an alleged ₱56-billion scheme between 2022 and 2025.
Investigators pointed to:
- Witness testimony
- Reported cash deliveries
- Corporate transactions
- The alleged diversion of public funds meant for flood control projects
They recommended charges for plunder, direct and indirect bribery, graft, and money laundering.
Romualdez continues to deny any wrongdoing. Even so, the BI’s refusal to retreat leaves him boxed in by an official government statement, a standing court order, and a corruption probe running into billions of pesos.