The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez challenging the Office of the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation against him, ruling that the case had become moot and academic.
During its En Banc session on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the high court denied Romualdez’s petition for certiorari, which questioned the Ombudsman’s investigation and its applications for a preliminary hold departure order and freeze order against him.
Romualdez also challenged the alleged use of inadmissible evidence during the investigation.
In his petition, the lawmaker sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the Ombudsman from proceeding with its investigation.
However, the Supreme Court rejected his requests, explaining that the petition had become moot following the filing of plunder charges against Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan.
The high court noted that Romualdez had already been arraigned and had entered a plea of not guilty to the charges.
The justices also found no exceptional circumstances that would justify resolving the petition despite its having become moot.
The ruling effectively ended Romualdez’s legal challenge to the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation but did not determine his guilt or innocence in the plunder case.
The criminal proceedings before the Sandiganbayan remain separate from the Supreme Court’s dismissal of his petition.
