Washington has not publicly given a reason as the Leyte lawmaker faces separate proceedings in the Philippines
MANILA — The United States has canceled the diplomatic and tourist visas of former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said Friday, June 5.
The ambassador said he had no further information on why Washington took the action. U.S. officials have not publicly given a reason, and visa records are generally treated as confidential under U.S. immigration law.
The development brings renewed scrutiny to Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and once one of the most powerful figures in Congress. But the visa cancellation is separate from the proceedings he faces in the Philippines, and U.S. officials have not publicly linked the action to any pending case.
Romualdez remains a member of the House representing Leyte’s 1st District. In the Philippines, he is under a precautionary hold departure order tied to proceedings over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects. The Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division recently denied his motion to lift the order, keeping in place a restriction on his travel while the matter remains pending.
The Office of the Ombudsman has cited complaints involving allegations of plunder, direct bribery, violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, indirect bribery and money laundering. Romualdez has denied wrongdoing.
His camp had sought to lift the travel restriction, arguing that he was not a flight risk and had no intention of evading proceedings. Prosecutors opposed the request, saying the hold order was necessary while the government pursued the case. The court denied the motion for lack of merit.
A canceled U.S. visa means the document can no longer be used to seek entry into the United States. It does not establish criminal liability. Likewise, the Philippine travel restriction is a preventive court measure, not a conviction.
The Philippine cases remain pending, and the allegations against Romualdez have not been adjudicated. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
