Romualdez transferred to PGH for medical assessment amid plunder charges

Former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez was transferred to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila on Saturday morning from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. This move follows an arrest warrant issued against him, with the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordering PGH officials to assess if Romualdez requires medical confinement. Romualdez arrived at PGH around 8:30 a.m., according to a report by GMA News. His doctors have previously informed the anti-graft court that he needed to remain confined in a medical facility due to a fluctuating blood pressure and the risk of stroke. He also reportedly exhibited signs of depression and anxiety. The PGH doctors are mandated to submit their assessment of Romualdez's health by September 13, with the findings to be presented to the court the following day. The court's decision on his detention will hinge on this medical evaluation. If PGH determines he does not require confinement, he could be detained at the Quezon City Jail. Romualdez faces a P7.4-billion plunder charge in relation to a flood control scam. His co-accused include former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co, Romualdez's personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation President Felicito Cristobal Guevarra. Ambulances and transport vehicles from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) were seen at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center prior to the transfer, and members of the Manila Police District - Mobile Force Battalion were on standby at PGH. The convoy carrying Romualdez departed the San Juan hospital past 8 a.m. for PGH. This situation highlights the process of medical declarations by politicians facing criminal charges in the Philippines, and the scrutiny applied by public institutions like the Sandiganbayan to ensure due process. The assessment by a state-run hospital is intended to provide an independent medical opinion.