Sandiganbayan Denies Romualdez's Plea for Hospital Detention

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday denied the bid of former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez to be transferred to hospital detention, saying other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) are in worse health conditions than him. “We would like to emphasize that invocation of ill health is not sufficient for an accused’s continued confinement in the hospital,” Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson Karl Miranda said. Romualdez is detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas in connection with a P7.4-billion plunder case. He entered his not guilty plea to the charge via videoconferencing, as allowed by the Sandiganbayan. The anti-graft court also noted that Romualdez’s health condition was found to be stable by doctors from the state-run Philippine General Hospital (PGH) during a court-ordered medical examination. In his motion dated September 14, Romualdez sought confinement at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Romualdez’s counsel, lawyer Ade Fajardo, said they would still avail themselves of legal remedies following the court’s decision if they deemed it necessary.— MCG, GMA News