Romualdez pleads not guilty to P7.4 billion plunder charge
Leyte 1st District Representative and former House speaker Martin Romualdez has pleaded not guilty to his P7.4 billion plunder charge.
Romualdez, in a wheelchair, attended the arraignment via teleconference from the Quezon City Jail in Payatas on Sept. 16.
As he entered a not guilty plea, his case goes to trial.
Additionally, the Sandiganbayan Third Division gave him 10 days to file his comment on why he should not be preventively suspended while he faces a plunder charge.
Romualdez's counsel will file a petition for bail, as per a Philippine STAR report.
This comes after the former House speaker's request for hospital stay was denied by the Office of the Ombudsman. On Monday, the congressman was transferred from the UP Philippine General Hospital to the QC jail following an order from the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
Doctors from the hospital testified that Romualdez was clinically stable and did not require continued in-hospital care.
Their assessment on Sept. 12 found the lawmaker to be suffering from chronic coronary syndrome, major depressive disorder, and sleep apnea, all of which need continuous medical intervention but not confinement.
Romualdez was arrested on Sept. 7 over a P7.44 billion plunder charge connected to his alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects. He was served the warrant at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where he was confined prior to his arrest.
The president's cousin said in a statement on Monday that he "respects" the Sandiganbayan's decision to order his transfer. However, he continued to deny the allegations against him.
"I maintain my innocence. Haharapin ko ang kaso. Sasagutin ko ang mga paratang," he said.
Alongside Romualdez, his co-accused in the plunder case are former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevara.
