Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Photo courtesy of PNP.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez may not be able to personally face the Sandiganbayan on Thursday after doctors at Cardinal Santos Medical Center certified that he remains medically unfit to travel, complicating a hearing that could determine whether he stays in the private hospital or is moved to a government facility.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division had ordered Romualdez to appear for proceedings on his urgent request to continue receiving treatment at Cardinal Santos, where police arrested him Monday on a non-bailable plunder charge.
PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said Thursday morning that the latest medical certification issued by the hospital indicated that Romualdez could not yet be safely transported. Police would coordinate with his doctors before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which has custody of Romualdez, makes any attempt to bring him to court.
Romualdez has asked the anti-graft court to allow him to remain at Cardinal Santos for as long as inpatient treatment is medically necessary. His motion cited Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism and other medical concerns, and said his condition could be independently evaluated by a government or court-designated physician.
His continued stay at a private hospital has become a key issue following his arrest. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said the government would seek Romualdez’s transfer to the PNP General Hospital at Camp Crame once his condition permits, while police have maintained round-the-clock security at Cardinal Santos.
The Sandiganbayan has the final say on whether medical considerations justify continued confinement outside a government detention facility. The court previously stressed that any health-related concern affecting implementation of its warrant falls under its authority.
Romualdez faces allegations that he and his co-accused received at least Php 7.44 billion in commissions, shares, kickbacks and other benefits on at least 15 occasions from contractors and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and other government projects funded from 2022 to 2025.
The former speaker has denied wrongdoing and said through counsel that he would face the accusations through the legal process. His request for continued hospitalization does not affect the validity of the arrest warrant, and he remains under PNP custody while confined at Cardinal Santos.