Court awaiting Romualdez’s bail petition

MANILA, Philippines — A week after his arraignment on Sept. 16, former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has yet to file a bail petition for his plunder case involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.4 billion, the Sandiganbayan Third Division said on Thursday.

However, Dennis Pulma, the division’s clerk of court, said the matter may be taken up during pretrial proceedings on Friday.

Last week, Romualdez’s lawyer Rachel Ann Pomoy told the court that they intended to seek bail.

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Plunder is a nonbailable offense.

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READ: Romualdez camp to submit by Monday comment vs preventive suspension

Bail may be allowed if the accused’s evidence of guilt is not strong, which could be established only during the bail hearing.

Romualdez earlier pleaded not guilty via teleconferencing.

The alleged kickbacks totaling P7.44 billion supposedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, according to prosecutors.

The Leyte representative was hospitalized for nearly a week following his arrest on Sept. 7, before he was taken to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City. —John Eric Mendoza