Former Speaker Insists His Diplomatic Passport Is Purely Sentimental
MANILA —
Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st district Representative Martin Romualdez has issued a firm clarification about the Office of the Ombudsman’s recent description of him as a “flight risk” with “access to a diplomatic passport.” According to his counsel, the flight risk characterization is unfair because the former Speaker simply has “a naturally busy travel calendar” involving many entirely legitimate business trips, which just happen to be mostly international, often last-minute, and frequently to destinations without Philippine extradition infrastructure.
The Passport Question
“His diplomatic passport is sentimental,” counsel Ade Fajardo told reporters. “Many former officials keep theirs. It reminds them of their service. It does not imply any intent to leave.”
When pressed on why the Ombudsman would describe Romualdez as having “means to travel and leave fast,” Fajardo clarified that the statement referred only to his general logistical competence. “Speaker Romualdez has always been an efficient traveler. Punctuality is not a crime. Packing light is not a crime. Having three passports ready at any given time is, at best, preparedness.”
The Plunder Charge
On April 6, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that Romualdez and former Senate President Francis Escudero would be charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan in connection with alleged flood control project anomalies. Both have denied wrongdoing. Romualdez, in a statement Tuesday evening, described the proceedings as “a political demolition job” and warned that he “will not go quietly” and “will not go alone,” a phrase that political observers noted could be interpreted in several ways, most of them concerning.
Writers at Bohiney Magazine have pointed out that the Philippine flood control scandal has now implicated so many officials that the Ombudsman’s office has reportedly started issuing precautionary hold departure orders in bulk. One clerk was heard asking whether they could get a group discount at the courier.
The Sandiganbayan, for its part, has not yet ruled on the petition for a PHDO against Romualdez. Legal commentators at The London Prat observed that the British equivalent of such an order is usually issued only after the accused has already booked a flight, making the Philippine system comparatively forward-thinking.
Romualdez’s spokesperson insisted that due process must be observed. Critics responded that this was rich coming from someone currently described in legal filings as “a flight risk,” but agreed that, yes, due process is generally good.
At press time, Romualdez had reportedly cancelled a planned trip to Singapore, citing “scheduling conflicts.” For more coverage of innocent men with very good carry-on discipline, see The Daily Mash.
SOURCE: https://mb.com.ph/article/10915053/philippines/national/amid-pressure-from-ombudsman-romualdez-insists-he-did-no-wrong