Romualdez to remain at hospital pending court order amid plunder raps

Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez will remain confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center until further orders from the anti-graft court, Sandiganbayan Third Division Clerk of Court Atty. Dennis Pulma confirmed on Thursday. Pulma stated that the court is still deliberating on Romualdez's motion seeking hospital confinement due to reported heart and brain-related illnesses. "The confinement of former Speaker [Romualdez] in Cardinal Santos will remain until further orders from the court," Pulma told reporters. "Doon muna siya (He will stay there for the moment)." Government prosecutors have accused Romualdez of receiving kickbacks 15 times from former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co between 2022 and 2025. Jocelyn Sereño, who works for Romualdez, and money changer Felecito Guevarra are also co-accused in the case. Pulma reiterated that Romualdez is now under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued a commitment order for his detention at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, which falls under BJMP's jurisdiction. "Being the primary custodian, ang magbabantay roon, the inner circle, are personnel from the BJMP Payatas Male Dormitory," Pulma said. Initially, Romualdez was under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) since September 7, before the anti-graft court issued the commitment order on Thursday, September 10. However, Pulma mentioned that the police could still assist the BJMP in safeguarding Romualdez. "The police still have a role because the BJMP may seek assistance from the PNP-CIDG (Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) regarding security concerns or security matters. But the primary custodian [of the former Speaker] are BJMP personnel," he added. The Sandiganbayan Third Division has scheduled Day 2 of the hearing on Romualdez's motion for hospital detention for Friday, September 11. On Thursday, Cardinal Santos doctors Kurt Sibayan and Rosilio Torres informed the anti-graft court that Romualdez's condition was not an emergency, although he remains at high risk for a possible heart attack. —AOL, GMA News