Romualdez Hospitalized Before Plunder Charge, Delaying Custody

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., faces plunder charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. The charges stem from allegations that he received P7.44 billion in kickbacks from flood control and other government projects. Plunder is a non-bailable offense, typically leading to immediate arrest and detention. However, Romualdez did not go to jail immediately after the charges were filed. Instead, he was admitted to a hospital in San Juan City before an arrest warrant was issued. Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla suggested that Romualdez's hospitalization was a pre-emptive move, as information about the impending charges likely leaked. "The movements are telegraphed because they know the case has been filed, has been raffled, so they plan ahead," Remulla stated, indicating that Romualdez's camp acted to delay his custody. Romualdez's camp filed a motion for continued hospital confinement, citing various serious medical conditions, including hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and unstable angina. Medical professionals reportedly informed authorities that transporting him could pose a risk due to his health. While an arrest warrant was eventually issued, Romualdez's admission to the hospital prevented his immediate transfer to a detention facility. DILG Secretary Remulla commented that Romualdez's decision to go to the hospital before his arrest was "not a coincidence." This situation contrasts with previous high-profile corruption cases. Former Senators Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada, also facing plunder charges, surrendered promptly after arrest warrants were issued. Even officials who cited medical conditions in the past, such as former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, did not go directly to a hospital before being taken into custody. Romualdez's case is considered highly unusual due to his immediate hospitalization prior to the enforcement of the arrest warrant.