PGH to conduct 'objective,' 'professional' health check on ex-Speaker Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) said it had formed a team of specialists to check the health of former Speaker Martin Romualdez, who has asked the Sandiganbayan to let him stay in a medical facility following his recent arrest on plunder charges. Its doctors will remain “objective” and “professional,” PGH said in a statement issued Saturday shortly after Romualdez was transferred to the government hospital in Manila from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. Their findings “will be the basis of PGH’s recommendation on whether the continued stay of Congressman Romualdez in the hospital is necessary,” it added. READ: Romualdez to stay in PGH indefinitely starting Sept. 12 The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division on Friday ordered the Leyte lawmaker’s transfer to PGH, citing the need for an “independent examination” of Romualdez to “verify” the one reported in court by his doctors at Cardinal Santos. Shortly after being placed under arrest while already confined at Cardinal Santos on Sept. 7, Romualdez and his lawyers filed a motion seeking his extended stay in the hospital. The pending motion prevented the immediate implementation of a court order transferring him to New Quezon City Jail under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP). PGH said it would release no details of Romualdez’s condition to the public, other than those that will be presented in court. PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi or an authorized representative is expected to testify on Monday morning regarding the findings and on whether there is an “imperative need” to extend the hospital stay of the accused. The former Speaker is expected to remain at PGH until further orders from the court. Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who remains at large, along with two other individuals were charged by the Office of the Ombudsman with the nonbailable offense of plunder for allegedly receiving more than P7 billion in kickbacks from government projects from 2022 to 2025. According to his motion for continued hospital stay, Romualdez, a cousin of President Marcos, was suffering from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism and other illnesses. —Gillian Villanueva