Warrant of arrest to be served on Martin Romualdez even if in hospital, says DILG chief

The authorities will serve the warrant of arrest for former Speaker Martin Romualdez even if he is confined in a hospital, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Monday.

On early Monday evening, Remulla confirmed that he was on his way to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center to serve the warrant. He confirmed that hospital arrest was among the options being considered.

According to a report by GMA News' Katrina Son, members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group have been seen at the hospital to serve the warrant of arrest on the Leyte congressman.

The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a P7.4-billion plunder charge against former speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez and three others over their alleged involvement in a kickback scheme on flood control projects.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division then issued warrants of arrest for Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and their two co-accused in the plunder case the Ombudsman filed against them before the court.

Aside from Romualdez, other respondents include former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list, Joselyn Tragua Serenio, who is the personal assistant of Romualdez, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation.

A lawyer for Romualdez said he will face all allegations against him in connection with his alleged links to the kickback scheme involving the flood control mess.

“We respect the courts and the legal process. Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will face the allegations against him in accordance with law,” Atty. Ade Fajardo, counsel of Romualdez, said in a statement.

The anti-graft court also issued a hold-departure order against Romualdez, Co, and Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra.

“By repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least 15 occasions, commissions, shares, percentages. kickbacks, "commitments." and/or other pecuniary benefits aggregating at least P7.4 billion by reason or on account of the respective public offices and positions of Romualdez and Co, including monies derived 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, which monies were delivered to properties owned by, occupied by, or associated with Romualdez and received by Serenio and other persons acting for and in his behalf,” the criminal information read.

"The issuance of a warrant of arrest signifies only that, after personally evaluating the records, the Court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged," the Third Division said.

"Probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest exists when the facts and circumstances alleged by the prosecution would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent person to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested," it added. –NB, GMA News