Ex-House Speaker Romualdez secured at medical center after arrest warrant issued

Police have secured former Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, where he was taken on Monday afternoon after suffering "a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack," Interior Secretary Juanito Victor "Jovic" Remulla told reporters. Remulla went to the hospital early Monday night with PNP chief Police General Jose Melecio Nartatez to serve on Romualdez the warrant of arrest the Sandiganbayan issued after the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against the Leyte congressman, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others. He said Romualdez is considered a person deprived of liberty once he is read his rights. "According to the doctors, he is suffering from a cardiovascular event. Unstable ang kanyang blood pressure and [he is] having an anxiety attack," Remulla said. “However, we made it clear that, like in Secretary Bonoan’s case, we will check every day hanggang he’s well enough to be presented to court," he added. “In the meantime, meron kaming armed guards outside his door. Meron kaming armed police outside the hospital and in the lobby," Remulla said. “After we read him his rights, he is now considered a person deprived of liberty," he added. 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. He said Romualdez's cell at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas is waiting if the Sandiganbayan would commit him to the detention facility. Fair shake 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. –NB, GMA News