Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday announced that there is no record of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez departing the country. 'As of this time, Rep. Martin Romualdez has no recorded attempt to depart the country,' BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval stated.

According to Philippines News Agency, reports indicate that Romualdez sought permission from the Office of the Ombudsman to travel to Singapore for a heart check-up, a request that was denied by the graft buster. Despite this, Romualdez's lawyer, Ade Fajardo, asserts that the lawmaker was granted travel authority by Speaker Faustino Dy III.

The Ombudsman has previously requested the Sandiganbayan to issue a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Romualdez. However, the anti-graft court has not yet made a decision regarding this request.

Moreover, Romualdez is currently listed in an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) due to an ongoing investigation concerning alleged involvement in flood control irregularities. While an ILBO does not restrict his travel, it ensures that authorities are promptly informed of any travel movements by individuals involved in pending investigations.