JOSELYN Serenio, former personal assistant to ex-House speaker Martin Romualdez and one of four accused in the ₱7.4‑billion plunder case, is currently outside the Philippines, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed Thursday.
The bureau clarified that Serenio departed the country before the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued a hold departure order (HDO) against Romualdez and all three co‑accused. Citing the Data Privacy Act of 2012, the BI declined to release further details on her travel itinerary, destination, or departure date.
Joining Serenio abroad is former Ako Bicol Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, who reportedly left the country as early as July 2025.
Meanwhile, the third co‑accused, Felicito Guevarra, president of a foreign exchange firm, remains in the Philippines. The BI reiterated that it will “strictly enforce” the court’s hold departure order and apply all appropriate immigration measures within its authority to prevent any further flight of persons named in the case.
The Sandiganbayan issued arrest warrants against all four respondents on September 7. Romualdez was taken into custody the same day while confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City; following a medical evaluation at the Philippine General Hospital, he was transferred to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas on September 14 to face the plunder charge. Authorities continue to pursue leads and coordinate with international counterparts to locate and return the two accused who have left the country.
metrosundaily
