Former House Speaker Romualdez undergoes arrest proceedings in hospital

Officers of the Philippine National Police served the warrant of arrest on former Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where he was taken on Monday afternoon after suffering a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack. The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the warrant of arrest following the filing of plunder charges against Romualdez, former congressman Zaldy Co, and two others. One photo from the room showed Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Police Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II reading the Leyte congressman his rights. Another photo showed police officers taking Romualdez's fingerprints, according to booking procedures. Romualdez had an orange shirt for persons deprived of liberty draped across his chest during the booking process. According to Katrina Son's report on "Saksi," police took his pictures with the orange shirt on his chest as the hospital equipment connected to his body couldn't be removed. Romualdez couldn't be made to stand or moved because of the connections. Doctors from the PNP and those of Romualdez met and discussed his condition. A report on his health will be submitted to the Sandiganbayan. Armed guards have been placed at his door and at the hospital lobby while a court sheriff arrived to check on Romualdez and his health. The warrant will be returned to the court on Tuesday, along with Romualdez's pictures and reports on his arrest and health. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a lawyer was with Romualdez when the latter received the warrant of arrest. He said Romualdez appeared pale. A lawyer for Romualdez said he would face all allegations against him in connection with his alleged links to the kickback scheme involving the flood control mess. “We respect the courts and the legal process. Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will face the allegations against him in accordance with law,” Atty. Ade Fajardo, counsel of Romualdez, said in a statement. “We recognize the public interest surrounding this case. But ultimately, criminal liability must be determined by the evidence presented in court, under the rules and safeguards of our justice system,” he added. He also said that Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., only asked for a fair shake. P7.4B plunder charge The Office of the Ombudsman on Monday filed a P7.4-billion plunder charge against Romualdez, former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co of Ako Bicol party-list, Joselyn Tragua Serenio, who is the personal assistant of Romualdez, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation. “By repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least 15 occasions, commissions, shares, percentages. kickbacks, "commitments." and/or other pecuniary benefits aggregating at least P7.4 billion by reason or on account of the respective public offices and positions of Romualdez and Co, including monies derived from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, which monies were delivered to properties owned by, occupied by, or associated with Romualdez and received by Serenio and other persons acting for and in his behalf,” the criminal information read. The Sandiganbayan Third Division hours later on Monday issued warrants of arrest against them. "The issuance of a warrant of arrest signifies only that, after personally evaluating the records, the Court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged," the Third Division said. "Probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest exists when the facts and circumstances alleged by the prosecution would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent person to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested," it added. Remulla said the hospital arrest was not a "permanent situation" for the former Speaker. "But we assure you, we assure you, he cannot hide behind his wealth," Remulla said. –NB, GMA News