Romualdez to remain in hospital amid plunder charge: Sandiganbayan
Leyte 1st District Representative and former House speaker Martin Romualdez will remain confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center until further orders from Sandignabyan.
On Sept. 10, the anti-graft court said it was still deliberating on the lawmaker's motion for continued hospital confinement as he faces detention over a P7.4 billion plunder charge, which is non-bailable.
Romualdez was confined at around 4 p.m. on Monday, shortly before a warrant of his arrest was issued, after suffering a "cardiovascular event" and an anxiety attack, as per Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
Medical personnel from Cardinal Santos, including Dr. Rosalio Torres, testified before the Sandiganbayan on Monday that Romualdez is at "high risk of a possible heart attack."
"In case of emergency, he would have an hour [to be treated]. We believe he may not be afforded that one hour [if he is transferred to another facility]," Torres said, as per GMA News.
Meanwhile, Dr. Kurt Allen Sibayan, the hospital's admitting doctor, said that Romualdez's condition was not an emergency case. He added that the congressman was immediately admitted and did not go to the emergency room.
Additionally, Sibayan told the court that he was not allowed to conduct a medical examination on Romualdez or be inside the former House speaker's room.
Torres said he advised the congressman to be confined after the latter complained about chest pains at around 9 a.m. on Monday.
On Thursday afternoon, the Sandiganbayan transferred custody of Romualdez from the Philippine National Police to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.
Romualdez's arraignment and pre-trial are set for Sept. 14.
The former House speaker faces a P7.4 billion plunder charge alongside ex-Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevara for allegedly repeatedly receiving commissions, kickbacks, shares, "commitments," and other financial benefits in connection with anomalous flood control projects.
