ASEANEWS HEADLINE-GOVERNMENT | MANILA: US cancels Romualdez’s diplomatic, tourist visas

.

.

.

WATCH VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E50KVWEM0ao

Diplomatic at tourist visas ni ex.-House Speaker Martin Romualdez, binawi umano ng Estados Unidos

.

Kinansela na raw ng Estados Unidos ang diplomatic at tourist visas ni former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, kasabay ng kanyang kinakaharap na imbestigasyon sa flood control scandal.

.

.

.

MANILA, Philippines — The United States has revoked the diplomatic and tourist visas it issued to former House speaker Martin Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed yesterday.

“I just found out now. Yes, it’s true. We just got word yesterday,” he told The STAR in a text massage, adding that the information came from the “State Department.”

The US embassy in Manila, however, emphasized that information on visa records and decisions are confidential.

“Due to visa record confidentiality, the US Department of State does not comment on individual visa cases or specific actions taken,” an embassy spokesperson told The STAR.

.

.

Bilyonaryo News Channel, in a separate report, said a top Philippine government official had confirmed that Romualdez’s A-1 diplomatic visa and B1/B2 non-immigrant visa were canceled several weeks ago.

The Leyte lawmaker is among those facing investigation for alleged involvement in the misuse of public funds related to flood control projects and the budget process.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has said Romualdez could face indictment for conspiracy to commit plunder as well as malversation through falsification of public documents. Both are non-bailable offenses.

Romualdez is under a provisional hold order and freeze orders have been issued on several of his assets.

He has denied all the accusations and warned that he would not be a “scapegoat” or a “fall guy.”

Bilyonaryo reported that Romualdez had been informed of the visa cancellations along with several government agencies such as the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice.

.

.

.