PGH to submit Romualdez’s medical report to Sandiganbayan

Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officers escort an ambulance reportedly carrying former speaker Martin Romualdez as the convoy arrives at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila on September 12, 2026.

Noel Pabalate

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) is set to submit its medical report on former House speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez to the Sandiganbayan.

The medical report will determine whether Romualdez will still need hospital confinement. The recommendation was expected to be submitted yesterday at 5 p.m.

PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said they were still finishing medical tests on the lawmaker, as of yesterday morning.

Del Rosario said they were in the last stage of completion of the medical exam, as of 1 p.m. yesterday.

The doctor said that a group of specialists would discuss the specific findings on Romualdez’s medical test results.

As ordered by the Sandiganbayan Third Division, Romualdez was transferred from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan to PGH to undergo independent medical and diagnostic tests to determine if there is justification for his request for continued hospital detention.

Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, director of UP-PGH, is set to testify before the Sandiganbayan tomorrow on the hospital’s findings and recommendation. He has also been directed to submit a daily medical report on Romualdez’s condition.

The first cousin of President Marcos will stay in PGH until the Sandiganbayan orders his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

Romualdez is facing plunder charges for allegedly receiving P7.4 billion in kickbacks from promised government projects from 2022 to 2025.

‘Main plunderers’

Both Romualdez and fugitive former congressman Zaldy Co should be held liable as “main plunderers” for squandering P7.4 billion worth of public funds, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

His office filed plunder charges against Romualdez, Co, and Romualdez’s household staff Joselyn Serenio and foreign exchange executive Felicito Guevarra over alleged deliveries of part of the funds, as well as establishing dummy companies to be able to buy properties.

Asked whether Romualdez or Co should be tagged as the “main plunderer” based on jurisprudence, Remulla maintained both of them should be called such because they amassed P7.4 billion, far greater than the P50 million threshold to press plunder cases.

Remulla believes the Supreme Court will “revisit” the “main plunderer doctrine.”

“I am sure of it because that kind of thinking must not be entertained because that is meant to protect plunderers, not to convict them.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said it would be “prudent for us to see what he wants to say if ever he is willing to do so,” referring to Co.

“Former speaker Martin (Romualdez) may not have reached his quota if Zaldy (Co) did not move. In our eyes, they are both guilty of this plunder charge,” Clavano said in a recent interview over ANC. — Ghio Ong