Billionaire businessman and Party-list Rep. Michael L. Romero of 1-Pacman has allegedly gone on the lam following a Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Manila City issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) for allegedly stealing P3.4 million from his family-owned Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI).
RTC in Manila City Branch 11 Judge Cicero Jurado Jr. issued the two-page order against Romero and one of his two coaccused, Edwin Jeremillo.
The judge has also ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration to put Romero and Jeremillo on the hold departure list.
“Furnish the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Bureau of Immigration a copy of this Order [HDO] together with the pertinent pictures and documents for their information and guidance,” Jurado said in an order issued last month.
Jurado in January issued an arrest warrant against Romero, Jeremillo and Felicia Aquino for qualified theft. Romero has allegedly evaded arrest for some six months now.
“Despite the issuance of the warrant of arrest, both accused have evaded and have not been arrested, so far. It was also pointed out that accused Michael Romero is currently the vice chairman of AirAsia Philippines, a low-cost airline based in Manila and an affiliate of AirAsia in Malaysia. Ergo, it was argued that it was easy for him to leave the country should he wish,” read the ruling, which approved the motion for the issuance of an HDO filed by the private prosecutor.
“There is nothing, therefore, wrong in issuing the hold departure order,” Jurado said in his decision.
The public and private prosecutors earlier tagged Romero—whose last known places of residence were at 7 Warbler Street Greenmeadows Subdivision in Quezon City and at Oracle Residences Katipunan Ave. also in Quezon City—as a “flight risk”.
Prior to the issuance of the arrest warrant, Romero was very active at the House of Representatives and was a member of at least 15 committees.
House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas said congressional leaders could not guarantee parliamentary immunity to Romero as they have to respect and abide by the orders of the court.