Romer Butuyan 
KUMPYANSA ang kampo ni Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez na may nalalabing legal na paraan para malampasan ang precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) na inisyu ng Sandiganbayan, batay sa rekomendasyon ng Office of the Ombudsman.
“We acknowledge reports that the Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez upon request of the Office of the Ombudsman,” bungad ni Atty. Ade Fajardo sa ipinalabas na opisyal na kalatas bilang reaksyon sa naturang isyu.
“We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order before the proper forum,” dugtong ng abogado at spokesperson ng former House Speaker.
Paglilinaw ni Fajardo, nanatili sa bansa si Romualdez, kasabay ng giit na walang katotohanan ang mga balitang nilisan na ng dating lider ng Kamara ang Pilipinas.
“At the outset, we categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” dugtong ng abogado.
“Rep. Romualdez followed the proper process. He sought and secured the necessary travel authority, and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration for a brief, long-overdue four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore,” dagdag niya.
Muling tiniyak ni Fajardo ang pagbibigay ng buong kooperasyon sa mga awtoridad ng Leyte lawmaker at ang kahandaan harapin ang lahat ng alegasyon laban sa kanya.
“This is fully consistent with his conduct from the very beginning—one of cooperation, transparency, and respect for legal processes. Unfortunately, this legitimate act has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee,” ani Fajardo.
“Rep. Romualdez remains committed to facing these allegations squarely,” pagtatapos niya.
