SC dismisses Romualdez petition vs Ombudsman’s flood control scam investigation

MANILA — The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, which challenged the preliminary investigation conducted against him by the Ombudsman on the flood control scandal over mootness. 

The SC noted that aside from the preliminary investigation, Romualdez’s petition included the application for a preliminary hold departure order and freeze order against him and the alleged use of inadmissible evidence. 

The SC stated that the proceedings are already on-going before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan following the filing of a plunder charge against Romualdez. 

“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 said in a statement. 

The high court also denied Romualdez’s prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the Ombudsman from continuing the preliminary investigation. 

The en banc resolved the petition of Romualdez during its regular session Wednesday. 

“The SC also found no exceptional circumstances that would justify resolving the petition despite its having become moot,” the SC said. 

Romualdez has been detained at the Quezon City Jail since September over the plunder charge. 

He was served a warrant of arrest while confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on September 7.