MANILA—The camp of former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez said it will question before the proper forum the issuance of a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against him.

In a statement on Thursday, Atty. Ade Fajardo, Romualdez’s lawyer and spokesperson, said they intend to exhaust legal remedies to contest the order.

“We will avail of all appropriate legal remedies to question the issuance of this order before the proper forum,” Fajardo said.

The lawyer also clarified that Romualdez remains in the country amid reports suggesting otherwise.

“We categorically clarify: Rep. Romualdez is in the Philippines and has not left the country. Any report or insinuation that he has fled is false and irresponsible,” he said.

Romualdez is currently facing investigation over allegations of plunder, money laundering, graft, and other offenses. His camp maintained that he remains ready to respond to the complaints filed against him.

“Rep. 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,” Fajardo 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.

The lawyer said the former Speaker’s camp expects due process to be observed following the filing of complaints.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said he denied Romualdez’s request to travel to Singapore on April 21 for a medical check-up.