Sandiganbayan: Romualdez will remain in Cardinal Santos until further orders

Leyte Representive Martin Romualdez, who is facing a P7.4 billion plunder charge over flood control mess, will remain confined in the Cardinal Santos Medical Center until further orders from the anti-graft court, Sandiganbayan Third Division Clerk of Court Atty. Dennis Pulma said Thursday.

Pulma said this is because the court is not yet done with its deliberations on Romualdez’s motion seeking hospital confinement in Cardinal Santos due to heart and brain-related illnesses.

“The confinement of former Speaker [Romualdez] in Cardinal Santos will remain until further orders from the court,” Pulma told reporters.

“Doon muna siya (He will stay there for the moment),” he added.

Government prosecutors have alleged that Romualdez received kickbacks from former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co 15 times from 2022 to 2025. Their other co-accused in the case were Jocelyn Sereño, who is working for Romualdez, and Felecito Guevarra, a money changer.

Under BJMP custody

Pulma, however, reiterated that Romualdez is now under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology because the Sandiganbayan Third Division already issued a commitment order that Romualdez will be detained in New Quezon City jail in Payatas, which is under BJMP’s jurisdiction.

“Being the primary custodian, ang magbabantay roon, the inner circle, are personnel from the BJMP Payatas Male Dormitory,” Pulma said.

Initially, Romualdez was under the custody of the Philippine National Police since September 7 before the anti-graft court issued the commitment order on Thursday, September 10.

Pulma, however, said the police could still be of help to BJMP when it comes to safeguarding Romualdez.

“The police still have a role because the BJMP may seek assistance from the PNP-CIDG (Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) regarding security concerns or security matters. But the primary custodian [of the former Speaker] are BJMP personnel,” he said.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has scheduled Day 2 of the hearing on Romualdez’s motion for hospital detention on Friday, September 11.

On Thursday, Cardinal Santos doctors Kurt Sibayan and Rosilio Torres told the anti-graft court that Romualdez’s case was not an emergency, although he remains at high risk for a possible heart attack. —AOL, GMA News