Romualdez suffering from depressive disorder, anxiety, says psychiatrist

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.

Asked if regular mindful sessions can be done in other health facility, Ignacio replied "generally."

Ignacio also said depression is related to Romualdez's other existing heart and brain-related ailments.

"When you prescribe anti-depressants, it [anti-depressant] does have an effect on the brain and blood vessels," Ignacio said.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered the Philippine General Hospital to examine Romualdez and verify the findings of his doctors from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, where he is currently confined.

This developed after two days of hearing testimonies from his physicians at Cardinal Santos.

Dr. Rody Sy, the former lawmaker's cardiologist, said Romualdez would need four to six weeks to recover from his ailments due to stress. Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, however, rebuffed the length of the recovery plan.

Romualdez underwent angioplasty in October 2024.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division ultimately ordered the transfer of Romualdez from Cardinal Santos to state-run Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for independent examination and confinement starting September 12, Saturday.

In response, Atty. Ade Fajardo, counsel for Romualdez, said the court’s decision on his client’s transfer to the PGH, as well as the issuance of an arrest warrant, was a “heartbreak moment” for the former House leader.

Fajardo cited the testimonies of Romualdez’s doctors, who said that in case of a heart attack, he would need to be brought to a well-equipped hospital within an hour. Romualdez continues to have hypertension and diabetes following an angioplasty procedure in October 2024, Fajardo said.

“That’s really the principal concern: the one-hour window. We wish na walang mangyaring masama,” he said.

(We wish that no untoward incident will happen.)

“Nakita naman natin, this was a true heartbreak moment. Even the issuance of the warrant of arrest, it was a true heartbreak moment. Kahit sino naman siguro, mayaman, mahirap, mataas ang posisyon o simpleng tao, may kanya-kanyang heartbreak moments,” Fajardo said.

(We have all seen it. Whoever it is—rich, poor, a high-ranking official or an ordinary person—we all have heartbreak moments.)

Fajardo also maintained that Romualdez’s health condition remains concerning.

“You can never really predict the health condition of one person, but we were able to establish that he has a pre-existing condition. Hindi ito pinepeke (We are not faking his illness). He had previous surgery, had silent strokes. They are all documented by the doctors who are sworn to their oaths,” he said. — VDV/VBL, GMA News