The Supreme Court en banc, during its session on Wednesday, dismissed the petition for certiorari filed by Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez challenging the preliminary investigation conducted by the respondent Office of the Ombudsman.

This includes its application for a preliminary hold departure order and freeze order against him and the alleged use of inadmissible evidence.

The SC also denied Romualdez’s prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the respondent from continuing the preliminary investigation.

The SC ruled that the petition has become moot, or no longer needs to be resolved, because a plunder charge had already been filed against Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan, where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty.

The SC also found no exceptional circumstances that would justify resolving the petition despite its having become moot. Office of the SC Spokesperson