Romualdez ordered to attend Sandiganbayan hearing on Sept. 10, 2026

The Sandiganbayan has ordered former Speaker Martin Romualdez to appear before a hearing on September 10, 2026, to address his motion for continued hospital confinement. Romualdez has been hospitalized at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City since Monday, when police served an arrest warrant issued by the anti-graft court in connection with a P7.4 billion plunder case. Late Monday, his camp filed a petition before the Sandiganbayan's Third Division to grant him "continued hospital confinement" due to health issues. "Accused Romualdez is directed to appear before the court should his condition permit," the Sandiganbayan stated. "Accused Romualdez and/or his doctors are likewise directed to furnish the court during the said hearing the results of all pertinent medical examinations of accused Romualdez," it added. The court further elaborated, "It should be emphasized that the custody of accused Romualdez belongs to the court. If there are concerns regarding the accused's medical condition, it is only this court that can determine whether such condition affects the implementation of the warrant, the confinement of the accused at a hospital, or his commitment to a jail facility. Considering the allegations in accused Romualdez's Manifestation and Urgent Motion which raise serious concerns on his medical condition, the court deems it proper to set the Manifestation and Urgent Motion for hearing on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 8:30 in the morning." The Third Division order also directed the Clerk of Court to "issue subpoena ad testificandum to Dr. Rody Sy, Dr. Rogelio Libarres, Dr. Kurt Allen V. Sibayan, and Dr. Rosalio P. Torres of Cardinal for the hearing on September 10, 2026, and to furnish PNP CIDG-NCR, as well as the foregoing doctors copies of this Order." —LDF, GMA News