LIVE UPDATES: Sandiganbayan hearing of Martin Romualdez's motion for hospital confinement (Sept. 11, 2026)

Former speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez has been diagnosed with depressive disorder with anxiety, his psychiatrist Dr. Lourdes Ignacio said Friday.

Ignacio made the testimony during Day 2 of the Sandiganbayan hearing on Romualdez's motion for hospital detention amid a P7.4-billion plunder case leveled against him and three others over their alleged links to the flood control mess.

Ignacio also confirmed before the Sandiganbayan that she has prescribed oral medications and regular mindful sessions.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla on Friday did not mince his words to Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, telling him to man up and face his charges with dignity following his petition for hospital arrest.

“It’s sad that they want different rules to apply to him. Huwag sana ganun kasi we stand by the rule of law in the country,” Remulla said in a press briefing.

“Face the music, face the charges like a real man should. Man up to it,” he added.

The Sandiganbayan ordered the Philippine General Hospital on Friday to examine Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez and verify the findings of his doctors from Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

The anti-graft court said Romualdez will stay in PGH until the Sandiganbayan orders his transfer.

It also directed the director of PGH to report the results on Monday

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno scored Thursday the four-to-six-week recovery plan for Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“Minumura na kami ng tao rito (The public has been cursing us here),” Moreno said during Day 2 of the hearing on Romualdez’s motion for hospital detention.

Dr. Rody Sy, the lawmaker's cardiologist, said Romualdez would need four to six weeks to recover from his ailments due to stress

He said Romualdez’s blood pressure reached as much as 170/110 on Thursday, prompting his doctors to adjust the level of medicines given to him.

Dr. Rosalio Torres, the overall coordinator of the medical team of Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez, said Friday that the former House Speaker does not have any scheduled surgery or invasive medical procedure.

Torres made the testimony during Day 2 of the hearing on Romualdez's motion seeking hospital detention amid a P7.4 billion plunder case leveled against him over alleged links to flood control mess.

"None at the moment," Torres said when asked by the prosecution panel if there is any immediate surgery or invasive medical procedure scheduled to be done on Romualdez.

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.