Quezon City:Manila The Supreme Court (SC) has rejected a suit filed by former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez questioning the proceedings initiated by the Office of the Ombudsman against him. The court cited mootness as the basis for its decision.
According to Philippines News Agency, the tribunal dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by the Leyte lawmaker. Romualdez had challenged the preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman, including its application for a preliminary hold departure order and freeze order, and the alleged use of inadmissible evidence against him.
Romualdez is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory after failing to secure hospital arrest from the Sandiganbayan anti-graft court. The Supreme Court denied his request for a temporary restraining order or a writ of preliminary injunction to halt the preliminary investigation. The court ruled the petition moot as a plunder charge had already been filed against Romualdez, with him pleading not guilty during arraignment.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) has dismissed allegations of irregularities regarding Romualdez's detention. BJMP chief Jail Director Efren Nemeño stated that they are investigating claims that Romualdez was secretly allowed to leave jail. These allegations stem from a social media post by columnist Ramon Tulfo.
The BJMP has conducted initial CCTV verification and found no evidence of power or CCTV interruptions at the New Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory, nor any recorded movement of Romualdez outside the facility during the period in question. Nemeño emphasized that all inmates are subject to the same custodial rules, and any movement requires a proper court order.
The BJMP has welcomed public information to aid the investigation and affirmed its commitment to transparency and equal treatment without privileges. Romualdez, involved in the flood control scandal, has been in custody at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory since September 14.
