Romualdez camp to submit by Monday comment vs preventive suspension

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez will submit its answer by Monday as to why he should not be preventively suspended as a lawmaker by the Sandiganbayan, his lawyer Ade Fajardo said on Thursday.

On Sept. 16, Associate Justice Karl Miranda, the Sandiganbayan Third Division chair, gave Romualdez’s 10 days to explain why he should not be preventively suspended.

“We will most likely file Monday, which is the deadline,” Fajrdo told Inquirer in a text message.

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READ: Romualdez to seek bail as Sandiganbayan weighs suspension

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Republic Act No 7080, or the Anti-Plunder Act, provides for the preventive suspension of any official facing a plunder case.

On Sept. 7, an arrest warrant was issued by this court against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others for plunder involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion.

The amount allegedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, according to prosecutors.

The Leyte representative had been hospitalized for almost a week before being jailed at the New Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory on Sept. 14.