Jail awaits Romualdez, but hospital stay puts transfer on hold

National

A JAIL cell awaits former Speaker Martin Romualdez, but not yet.

The Sandiganbayan on Thursday placed him under BJMP custody while it considers his request to remain at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

The anti-graft court ordered Romualdez’s detention under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and directed his eventual transfer to the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas. The transfer, however, will have to wait until the court rules on his pending motion for hospital detention.

“Pursuant to the court’s Resolution and Warrant of Arrest both dated Sept. 7, 2026 and issued on even date, we hereby COMMIT to you the living person of FERDINAND MARTIN GOMEZ ROMUALDEZ who is charged in the aforesaid case for the crime of PLUNDER, to be HELD therein as a detention prisoner and as such, the accused shall not be moved, removed, transferred, and/or otherwise be released therefrom unless ordered by the court,” Associate Justice Karl Miranda, chair of the Fifth Division, ordered in open court, as quoted by the Inquirer.

The court will resume Friday, September 11, its hearing on Romualdez’s motion to remain at the San Juan City hospital. His arraignment and pretrial are set for September 14.

The BJMP formally assumed custody of Romualdez, President Marcos’ first cousin, at around 4:15 p.m. Thursday. The agency said he would receive the same treatment and privileges as other persons deprived of liberty, without VIP treatment. Once medically cleared for discharge and upon the court’s order, he will be transferred to the Quezon City jail.

Romualdez has been at Cardinal Santos since Monday, when he was served his arrest warrant there. He was admitted after complaining of chest pain.

His admitting physician, Kurt Allen Sibayan, testified Thursday that Romualdez’s condition was not considered an “emergency.” Sibayan also said the medical abstract did not state that confinement was required.

Dr. Rosalio Torres, another attending physician, testified that he had advised Romualdez to be admitted because of his history of cardiovascular disease. He also said a team of specialists had been organized to provide medical care to the former Speaker.

Romualdez did not appear in court after the Philippine National Police said he was not medically fit to travel.

“[The] latest medical certification of Cardinal Santos [last night] is he is not medically fit [to travel],” PNP public information chief Col. Allen Rae Co said in the same article.

Romualdez was arrested Monday after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants against him, former lawmaker Zaldy Co and two others over allegations involving at least P7.44 billion in kickbacks from government projects between 2022 and 2025.

State prosecutors allege that Romualdez and Co repeatedly received commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks and other financial benefits linked to government projects.(MyTVCebu)