Politics · Philippines Bureau
House Speaker's Former Aide Flees Philippines in Plunder Case
A former staff member of House Speaker Martin Romualdez has left the country ahead of a hold departure order in connection with a P7.4-billion plunder investigation, immigration authorities said Thursday.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Joselyn Serenio, a former aide to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has departed the Philippines before the Sandiganbayan could issue a hold departure order in an ongoing plunder case, the Bureau of Immigration confirmed Thursday.
Serenio is among several individuals accused alongside Romualdez in the P7.4-billion plunder investigation. The immigration bureau stated that Serenio had already exited the country before the anti-graft court took action to restrict her travel.
The development marks another complication in the high-profile case involving one of the country's most powerful legislators. The departure underscores concerns about the ability of authorities to maintain control over individuals facing serious criminal allegations.
The Sandiganbayan is the specialized court handling graft and corruption cases. Details regarding the specific charges against Serenio and the nature of the alleged plunder remain under judicial review.