MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has ordered the detention of former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas as he faces a major plunder case involving an alleged P7.4 billion scheme tied to public funds.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the order on September 10, directing the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to take custody of Romualdez from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
However, the court had not yet ordered his immediate physical transfer to the jail’s male dormitory because Romualdez remained confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center due to his reported medical condition.
Court Rejects Push for Continued Private Hospital Detention
Romualdez’s lawyers had sought court approval for him to remain under detention at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, citing his health condition.
But Ombudsman prosecutors opposed the request, arguing that his medical needs could be addressed by government doctors while he remained under detention.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla also maintained that Romualdez should be treated like any other detainee facing a non-bailable charge and that government medical facilities could provide appropriate care.
BJMP Ordered to Take Custody
Under the Sandiganbayan’s latest order, custody of Romualdez is to be transferred from the CIDG to the BJMP.
The ruling means Romualdez is now under an order for detention at a regular jail facility rather than remaining indefinitely under private hospital confinement.
His actual transfer to the New Quezon City Jail, however, remains dependent on the necessary procedures and his medical condition.
The court’s action follows days of debate over whether Romualdez’s health justified his continued confinement at the private hospital.
Doctors Give Conflicting Views on His Condition
During the hearing, questions were raised about the severity of Romualdez’s condition.
Dr. Kurt Allen Sibayan, who facilitated his hospital admission, testified that Romualdez arrived complaining of chest pain but said his condition was not considered an emergency at the time of admission.
Sibayan also said Romualdez remained at high risk of a heart attack.
However, Sibayan said government doctors were reportedly not allowed to enter Romualdez’s room to conduct their own examination, describing the restriction as unusual.
Romualdez’s attending physician, meanwhile, maintained that he should remain at Cardinal Santos Medical Center because of unstable angina and underlying coronary disease that could place him at high risk of a heart attack.
Arrest Came Hours After P7.4-Billion Plunder Case Was Filed
Romualdez was arrested on September 7 after the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against him and several others.
The case involves allegations of an illegal scheme connected to public funds, with prosecutors placing the amount involved at approximately P7.4 billion.
Romualdez has been charged alongside former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co, who authorities have described as a fugitive, and other accused individuals.
The allegations are part of a wider investigation into flood-control projects that have come under intense scrutiny over reports of irregularities, including projects alleged to have been overpriced, substandard or never completed. Romualdez has denied wrongdoing.
Pressure Mounts Over Equal Treatment
The case has become a major test of whether high-profile political figures accused of serious crimes will receive the same treatment as other detainees.
Government officials have repeatedly stressed that Romualdez should not receive special treatment despite his former position as House Speaker and his close family ties to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Palace has also maintained that the President has no involvement in decisions regarding Romualdez’s arrest or detention.
The Bottom Line
The Sandiganbayan has ordered Martin Romualdez’s detention at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas as he faces plunder charges involving an alleged P7.4-billion scheme.
The BJMP has been directed to take custody of the former House Speaker, although his immediate transfer from Cardinal Santos Medical Center to the jail has yet to be carried out.
With conflicting medical assessments and prosecutors pushing for equal treatment, the battle over where Romualdez should be detained may be far from over.
But the court’s message is now clear: the former House Speaker’s case is moving toward regular jail detention — and his political status will not automatically shield him from the same custody rules faced by other accused persons.
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