SC dismisses Romualdez petition vs Ombudsman’s prelim probe

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) has dismissed for being moot the petition filed by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez challenging the preliminary investigation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman regarding his alleged involvement in the flood control projects controversy.

Romualdez filed the petition asking the SC to invalidate the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation, which included applications for a preliminary hold departure order and a freeze order of his accounts, as well as the alleged use of inadmissible evidence.

The investigation is in connection with the plunder case against him over alleged kickbacks and fund diversions from 2022 to 2025 flood-control and infrastructure projects.

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Alongside the dismissal of the main petition, the SC denied Romualdez’s prayer for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or a writ of preliminary injunction aimed at halting the anti-graft body’s investigation.

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According to the high court, resolving the petition was no longer necessary as subsequent events had rendered the issues moot.

“The SC ruled that the petition has become moot, or no longer needs to be resolved, because a plunder charge had already been filed against Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan, where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty,” the SC Office of the Spokesperson stated in a press briefer.

The tribunal added that it found no exceptional circumstances that would warrant a ruling on the merits of the case despite its mootness.

Romualdez is already under detention at the Payatas Jail in Quezon City. /gsg