MANILA, Philippines – The United States has cancelled the visas of Leyte Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, a Philippine envoy to Washington D.C. confirmed on Friday.
In a message to DZRH, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed that the former House Speaker’s U.S. visas have been revoked.
“All I can say is, it’s confirmed,” Ambassador Romualdez said. He did not give any details regarding the issue.
Reports say that both Romualdez’s A-1 diplomatic visa and B1/B2 non-immigrant visa were cancelled.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Manila did not give any confirmation or statement regarding the cancellation of Romualdez’s visa, and cited confidentiality on visa cases.
“Due to visa record confidentiality, the U.S. Department of State does not comment on individual visa cases or specific actions taken,” the US Embassy told DZRH.
According to the U.S. Embassy website, the Department of State has broad authority under U.S. immigration law to revoke visas.
Even after a visa has been issued, the Department of State will continuously review information that might show if a visa holder is no longer eligible for the visa or to travel to the United States, it stated.
A visa may be revoked if an individual is arrested, convicted of a crime, behaves in ways that don’t match their visa type, overstays in the United States, or is determined to be a threat to public safety or national security, in addition to other reasons, according to the website.
Romualdez, and former lawmaker AKO Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizalde “Zaldy” Co, who was reportedly seeking asylum in France, are allegedly involved in the anomalous ghost flood control projects, with investigations alleging both individuals are involved in bribery and kickback schemes.
Aside from Romualdez and Co, other former and current public officials, lawmakers, and contractors were flagged in investigations on the controversial flood control scam.
In custody and facing charges were Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, former Department of Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and former Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Earlier, the Sandiganbayan denied Romualdez’s motion to lift a precautionary hold departure order; while the Office of the Ombudsman’s Spokesperson said that the lawmaker may have “functional control” over the Committee on Appropriations, which is now linked to anomalies in the flood control projects.
Romualdez, who stepped down as Speaker of the House, has been invited by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, led by the Cayetano bloc, regarding the panel’s hearing on the flood control scam on 4 June 2026.
He was also invited by the Gatchalian bloc, led by its Senate Blue Ribbon Committee Chairman Sen. Erwin Tulfo, to attend the hearing on Monday, 8 June 2026.
