The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed on Wednesday the implementation of the hold departure orders (HDOs) issued by the Sandiganbayan against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, and their two co-accused in the ₱7.44-billion plunder case.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the HDOs on September 7, along with warrants of arrest, against Romualdez, Co, Romualdez’s personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation.

The BI said Romualdez and Guevarra remain in the Philippines, while Co and Serenio are currently outside the country. Both Co and Serenio had already left the Philippines before the HDOs were issued.

The immigration bureau said it will strictly enforce the HDOs and take appropriate action within its mandate. However, it said that "it cannot disclose specific travel details or other personal information concerning the individuals, in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and other applicable laws."

Co has been outside the Philippines since July 2025. Meanwhile, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said authorities were pursuing efforts to locate and apprehend the former lawmaker, including coordination with Interpol.

Romualdez is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory infirmary in Payatas, Quezon City, where he is under medical supervision.

He pleaded not guilty to the plunder charge during his September 16 arraignment, which was conducted through videoconferencing.

The Sandiganbayan issued the arrest warrants and HDOs after finding probable cause based on the records submitted in the case.

The court stressed that the issuance of an arrest warrant does not constitute a determination of guilt, and that the accused remain presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

The Ombudsman accused the four of involvement in an alleged kickback scheme involving flood control and other government projects, with the alleged scheme amounting to at least ₱7.44 billion.