Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is still in the country and plans to push for legal remedies against the precautionary hold departure order (HDO) issued against him by the Sandiganbayan at the Ombudsman’s request, said his lawyer.

“We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order before the proper forum. Representative Romualdez remains committed to facing these allegations squarely,” Romualdez’s lawyer, Atty. Ade Fajardo said.

In a Thursday report by RH 12 Milky Rigonan, Fajardo slammed reports circulating online about the lawmaker’s alleged departure and evasion from accountability.

“At the outset, we clarify: Representative Romualdez is in the Philippines, and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” the lawyer said.

Fajardo stressed that Romualdez had followed the proper procedure in submitting a travel request to the House, which was approved, and coordinated “in good faith” with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) for his scheduled medical check-up in Singapore.

“Representative Romualdez followed the proper process. He sought and secured the necessary travel authority and coordinated in good faith with the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Immigration for a brief, long-overdue, four-day medical check-up with his attending physician in Singapore,” he said.

“This is fully consistent with his conduct from the very beginning: one of cooperation, transparency, and respect for legal processes. Unfortunately, this legitimate act has been twisted to create a prejudicial narrative that he intended to flee,” he added.

Earlier, Romualdez assured that he will not shirk away from responding to all allegations made against him. He added that he will not allow those behind the flood control scandal to use him as a scapegoat.