LIVE UPDATES: Sandiganbayan hearing of Martin Romualdez's motion for hospital confinement

The doctor who admitted Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez to Cardinal Santos Medical Center said Thursday that something was unusual in the lawmaker's confinement at the hospital.

Dr. Kurt Allen Sibayan made the statement during the hearing on Romualdez's motion for continued confinement at Cardinal Santos amid a P7.4 billion plunder case he is facing over his alleged links to the flood control mess.

Sibayan told the Sandiganbayan Third Division that while he was the admitting physician when Romualdez arrived at 4 p.m. in Cardinal Santos on September 7, he was not allowed to conduct any medical examination on the former House speaker.

"We were advised that we were not allowed inside the patient's (Romualdez) room," he said.

He said the instruction was relayed to him by attending physicians of Romualdez, Dr. Rody Sy and Dr. Rosalio Torres.

Asked by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno if such prohibition is unusual, Sibayan answered in the affirmative.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Thursday issued a commitment order for the detention of former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to the New Quezon City jail.

This developed ahead of the anti-graft court's hearing on Romualdez's motion to remain confined in Cardinal Santos Medical Center where he is being treated for heart and brain-related illnesses.

Romualdez is facing a P7.4 billion plunder charge over alleged involvement in the flood control mess.

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will not be present in Thursday's Sandiganbayan's hearing on his motion for continued hospital confinement, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

PNP Spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said that Romualdez's camp has a certification that says the former Speaker is "medically unfit" to travel.

"What I can confirm is a certification nila that the patient is medically unfit to travel outside the hospital as of now to physically appear before the Sandiganbayan," Co said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Yun ang po nilabas, today, nilabas na certification... Yun ang nakuha naming information as of last night, siyempre they also have to coordinate with the CIDG," he added.

The Sandiganbayan has directed former Speaker Martin Romualdez to appear before a hearing on September 10, 2026 on his motion for continued hospital confinement.

Romualdez has remained hospitalized at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City since Monday, when police served a warrant of arrest issued by the anti-graft court over a P7.4 billion plunder case.