Sandiganbayan orders PGH doctors to examine Romualdez starting Sept. 12

The Sandiganbayan Third Division 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, where he is currently confined.

Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda made the announcement after two days of hearing testimonies from Romualdez’s physicians

Romualdez will be transferred and confined in state-run PGH starting Saturday, September 12, until further court orders.

Romualdez and his three other co-accused are facing a P7.4 billion plunder charge over alleged links to flood control scam.

“Every accused is entitled to the same rights, protection, and humane treatment afforded to every person in custody. But he or she is likewise subject to the same rules and conditions of detention applicable to others similarly situated. Justice must apply the same standard to everyone who comes before this court,” the Sandiganbayan’s order read.

“Considering the concerns raised on the medical condition of accused Romualdez, the court deems it proper to direct an independent examination of accused Romualdez at the UP-Philippine General Hospital to verify the medical examination conducted by accused Romualdez's doctors at Cardinal and to determine whether there is a necessity for his continued confinement at a medical facility,” it added.

The anti-graft court said Romualdez’s transfer to PGH should be via an ambulance equipped to treat his heart, brain, and other ailments.

“Accordingly, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), with the assistance of the PNP and the Office of the Judiciary Marshals, is ordered to coordinate with and bring accused Romualdez to UP-PGH, using an ambulance with the required medical equipment, for the conduct of his medical examination on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 10:00 in the morning,” the order read.

It also directed the director of PGH to report the results on Monday, September 14.

Fine print

The anti-graft court particularly tasked Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, director of the UP-PGH, and/or any of his duly authorized representative/s, to execute the following actions:

• conduct a medical examination on accused Romaldez on the said date, without the direct or indirect participation or influence of Romualdez's doctors at Cardinal who may be connected to UP-PGH
• submit a report and recommendation on such medical examination to the court by Sunday, September 13, 2026 ahead of testifying on before the anti-graft court on Monday, September 14, 2026 at 8:30 in the morning, whether there is an imperative need for the continued hospital confinement of the accused
• submit a daily medical report on accused Romaldez's condition to the court within the same day; and
• allow accused Romualdez to stay in UP-PGH and attend to him thereat until further orders from the court.

As a result of Romualdez’s transfer, his arraignment, or the court process wherein an accused enters a guilty or not guilty plea, has been moved from September 14 to September 16 at 8:30 am.

The arraignment proceedings generally require an accused to be physically present before the court.

Ahead of the Sandiganbayan's decision, Romualdez's cardiologist Rody Sy testified that Romualdez would need four to six weeks to recover from his ailments due to stress.

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

Further, Sy said that given Romualdez already underwent angioplasty in October 2024 and has hypertension, diabetes, among other ailments, he would need to be brought to the hospital within an hour if he suffers a heart attack.

Also on Friday, Romualdez's psychiatrist, Dr. Lourdes Ignacio, testified that Romualdez is under medication for depressive disorder with anxiety.

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, however, said the four-to-six-week timeline for Romualdez's recovery will already subject the court to the wrath of the public. —AOL, GMA News