Sandiganbayan orders Romualdez’s transfer to PGH for independent tests

Speaker Martin Romualdez presides over the impeachment proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte for alleged violations of the constitution and corruption, at the House of Representatives on February 5, 2025.

Jire Carreon/Rappler

Romualdez will be discharged from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Saturday, September 12, and brought to the UP-PGH for medical examination

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan‘s 3rd Division ordered the transfer of Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez to the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) for an independent medical examination on Saturday, September 12.  

This means Romualdez would be discharged from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Saturday and then stay at UP-PGH in Manila until further orders from the anti-graft court.

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda, the court division chairman, issued the order on Friday, September 11, during the second day of the court’s hearing for the lawmaker’s motion on Romualdez’s continued hospital confinement.

The former House speaker remained in hospital confinement at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center following his arrest on Monday, September 7, over his P7.44-billion plunder case in relation to the flood control mess.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, the Philippine National Police, and the Office of the Judiciary Marshals would coordinate with the UP-PGH in bringing Romualdez to the hospital via an ambulance with the required medical equipment, according to the court order.

Romualdez’s doctors testified on the witness stand on Friday to explain his cardiological, neurological, and psychiatric conditions. All of them told the anti-graft court that transferring the lawmaker would be risky at the moment given the stress that he was experiencing. 

UP-PGH doctors were directed to submit their report and recommendation on Sunday, September 13, and appear before the court on Monday, September 14.

Romualdez’s arraignment and pre-trial were reset to Wednesday, September 16.  – Rappler.com