PNP Eyes International Cooperation in Hunt for Romualdez Co-Accused

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday said it may seek international cooperation to locate a co-accused of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez outside the country. At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Allen Rae Co said authorities continue to search for individuals who have outstanding warrants of arrest. “Tuloy tuloy just like everybody who has an issued warrant of arrest against them ay hinahanap natin yan para mahuli, para maaresto,” he said. “Now as to the one who was able [to leave the country], yun ay siguro papasok na po yung international cooperation with other countries regarding fugitives from the law,” he added. Co was responding to a question about the Bureau of Immigration's confirmation that one of Romualdez's co-accused had managed to leave the Philippines. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Thursday said the co-accused and personal assistant of Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romauldez in his plunder case has left the country. The BI said that Joselyn Serenio departed from the country prior to the issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) against her and the other respondents. It declined to disclose Serenio’s travel details and other personal information, citing the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and other laws. Meanwhile, the BI said that Romualdez and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation, remain in the Philippines. Romualdez recently pleaded not guilty in the P7.4 billion plunder case filed against him and three others over his alleged links to the flood control mess. — RSJ, GMA News