Martin Romualdez arrested in P7.4 billion plunder charge
Leyte 1st District Representative and former House speaker Martin Romualdez is now considered arrested over a P7.44 billion plunder charge, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
The DILG chief told reporters in an ambush interview on Sept. 7 that the arrest warrant for Romualdez has been served at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where the lawmaker is confined after suffering a "cardiovascular event."
"Unstable ang kanyang blood pressure and having an anxiety attack," Remulla said.
He added that despite this, authorities will check on Romualdez daily to see if he's well enough to be presented to the court.
"Meron kaming armed guards outside this door, meron kaming armed police outside the hospital and in the lobby. After we read his rights, he is now considered a person deprived of liberty," Remulla said.
"We assure you: He cannot hide behind his wealth. Kahit gaano kayaman siya, hindi niya kayang bayaran ang batas para payagan siyang dito sa magandang lugar lang matutulog. Dadalhin namin siya sa Payatas sa tamang panahon kung sabihin ng doktor na kaya na. Hindi ito permanent situation."
Earlier on Monday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder charge against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co, Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevara in connection with alleged anomalous flood control projects. An arrest warrant was issued hours later.
They are accused of repeatedly receiving commissions, kickbacks, shares, "commitments," and other financial benefits at least 15 times, amounting to P7.4 billion.
Co is currently at large overseas and is facing a separate set of graft and malversation cases in connection with an anomalous P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.
A lawyer for Romualdez has said that the lawmaker will face the allegations against him.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said that he would not oppose the filing of charges against Romualdez, his cousin.
Plunder is a non-bailable offense.
