Romualdez 'medically unfit to travel' for Sandiganbayan hearing —PNP

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 po ang nilabas nila na certification... 'Yun ang nakuha naming information as of last night, dahil siyempre they also have to coordinate with the CIDG who will be bringing him supposedly to the Sandiganbayan if he will appear," he added.

Romualdez is currently confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City due to heart and brain-related illnesses.

Read: LIST: Martin Romualdez's reported health issues

On Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan directed Romualdez to appear before a hearing set this morning, September 10, 2026 for 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.

LOOK: PNP releases mugshot of Martin Romualdez

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has also issued a subpoena ordering the doctors of Romualdez to show up before the court for the hearing. —VAL, GMA News