Romualdez asks court to extend hospital confinement after arrest

MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday asked the Sandiganbayan Third Division to extend his hospital confinement following his arrest for plunder.

Currently, Romualdez is confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. 

Authorities issued Romualdez’s arrest warrant and underwent booking procedures while confined to his bed.

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LIVE UPDATES: Ex-Speaker Romualdez faces arrest over plunder raps

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In his nine-page Manifestation of Hospital Confinement and Urgent Motion ad Cautelam for Continued Hospital Confinement under custody Romualdez said he wished to be under continuous lawful custody at the hospital “for so long as inpatient confinement remains medically necessary, certified by his attending physician, until he is medically cleared for transfer.”

“The requested accommodation rests exclusively on documented medical necessity, remains subject to continuous custody and judicial supervision, and may be independently verified by a court-designated or government physician,” Romualdez said.

He said he was confined in the hospital on Monday due to Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism, and other illnesses.

“The required care cannot, at this time, be safely delivered at a detention facility hospital, much less a detention facility, and identifies the clinical milestones or conditions upon which the accused may be medically cleared for transfer,” the motion said.

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Dennis Pulma, Sandiganbayan Third Division clerk of court, said the anti-graft court sheriff also went to the hospital to implement the arrest warrant.

“If there are concerns regarding the accused’s medical condition, it is only the Court that can determine whether such condition affects the implementation of the warrant,” Pulma said in a text message.

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“Until the Court orders otherwise, the warrant remains in force and must be implemented,” he said.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two others hours after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the information containing the formal charges against the accused.

According to the information containing the formal charges filed by prosecutors before the anti-graft court, Romualdez and Co were charged with “repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least fifteen (15) occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, ‘commitments’ and/or other pecuniary benefits” worth at least 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 the information.

Furthermore, the information stated that this amount was “specifically traced and laundered in setting up and/or using shell or dummy corporations and conduits” allegedly received by Sereño.

According to the Ombudsman’s resolution, Romualdez allegedly gave a P2 billion monthly “quota” for kickbacks.

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Romualdez, in response, said he respects the legal process and will face the allegations against him in accordance with the law, according to his counsel Ade Fajardo. /mcm/cb