Romualdez Completes Medical Tests, Continues Treatment; Plunder Case Proceeds

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday said former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has completed his diagnostic procedures and remained on prescribed medication. In a statement, the PNP said its doctors conferred with Romualdez’s attending physicians at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City and completed an assessment of the lawmaker on Tuesday. “He is currently being treated for existing medical conditions, including cardiac issues and elevated blood pressure. Diagnostic procedures have been completed, and he remains on prescribed medications for his conditions,” the police said. It did not provide further details on Romualdez’s condition. Romualdez was confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center last Monday afternoon after purportedly suffering a “cardiovascular event,” unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla. The ex-House of Representatives leader was also supposedly experiencing Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism, and other illnesses, his camp noted in a manifestation for continued hospital confinement filed at the Sandiganbayan also last Monday. “The PNPGH (PNP General Hospital) physicians have taken into consideration the medical findings and recommendations of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center doctors, who continue to directly attend to and manage the patient’s care,” the police added. Romualdez was arrested for plunder while confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. He was charged before the Sandiganbayan in connection with over P7 billion worth of alleged kickbacks received through various government projects from 2022 to 2025. The lawmaker has repeatedly denied the allegations. Remulla previously said police would ask the Sandiganbayan to transfer Romualdez from Cardinal Santos Medical Center to the PNPGH in Camp Crame. /mcm