Lawyers for Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez have demanded an apology from the Bureau of Immigration for reports they called patently false about his alleged attempt to leave the country. The Bureau rejected the accusation that it disseminated false information.
Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez's legal team sent a July 24 demand letter to Bureau of Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado. The letter protested reports attributed to BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval on July 21 that the agency had received information about plans by Romualdez to leave the Philippines that did not push through. These reports were cited by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with plunder complaints linked to a flood control scandal and the case People v. Romualdez at the Sandiganbayan.
The lawyers from Solis Medina Fajardo & Malilong Law Offices stated that the reports created a public impression Romualdez attempted to flee to evade jurisdiction. They described the claims as false and prejudicial to his presumption of innocence. A precautionary hold departure order was issued by the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division on April 22 after Speaker Faustino Dy III granted travel permission on April 20 for a medical follow-up.
The lawyers said Romualdez has respected court orders and is prepared to face charges. Viado responded that the agency provided factual information only in reply to media inquiries and did not initiate public discussion on the matter.
