Joselyn Serenio, a personal assistant to former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, has left the Philippines before a hold departure order was issued against her in connection with a P7.4-billion plunder case.
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed that Serenio had departed the country before the Sandiganbayan issued the hold departure order on September 7 against her and three other respondents. The BI said Romualdez and businessman Felicito Cristobal Guevarra remain in the Philippines, while Serenio and former Ako Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co are outside the country.
The immigration bureau did not disclose when or where Serenio traveled, citing the Data Privacy Act and other applicable laws. It said it would continue enforcing the hold departure order and take appropriate immigration measures within its authority.
Serenio, Romualdez, Co and Guevarra are facing a P7.4-billion plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged kickbacks linked to flood control and other government projects between 2022 and 2025. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings.
The Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants and the hold departure orders against the four accused on September 7. Romualdez is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, while Co is reported to be outside the Philippines. Guevarra remains in the country, according to the BI.
The Philippine National Police said it is coordinating with international partners in efforts to locate Serenio. Police officials also said operations to find Guevarra are continuing.
The Ombudsman has also said it is preparing additional cases involving allegations of bribery, money laundering and further plunder against Romualdez. Those possible cases are separate from the existing P7.4-billion charge.
