PNP Returns Romualdez Arrest Warrant for Plunder to Sandiganbayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday returned the warrant of arrest for plunder of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the Sandiganbayan Third Division. Romualdez did not appear before the court as he remained confined while under arrest at Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in San Juan City. READ: Romualdez arrested in hospital for plunder “I brought the return of the warrant together with his medical evaluation conducted in Cardinal Santos,” PNP – Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Col. John Guiagui said in an ambush interview. “We just had to return the warrant in the Third Division to inform them that the warrant has been served,” he added. The police served Romualdez’s arrest warrant and the lawmaker also underwent booking procedures. Romualdez on Monday filed an Urgent Motion ad Cautelam for Continued Hospital Confinement to the Third Division in a bid to extend his hospital confinement. READ: Romualdez asks court to extend hospital confinement after arrest Romualdez said he was admitted to hospital on Monday due to Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism and other illnesses. The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others hours after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the information containing the formal charges against the accused. According to the information containing the formal charges filed by prosecutors before the anti-graft court, Romualdez and Co were charged with “repeatedly receiving, directly or indirectly, on at least fifteen (15) occasions, commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, ‘commitments’ and/or other pecuniary benefits” worth at least P7.44 billion. The amount allegedly came 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, according to the information. Romualdez, in response, said he respects the legal process and will face the allegations against him in accordance with the law, according to his counsel Ade Fajardo. /gsg