MANILA — Former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez formally denied allegations that he benefited from a P7.44-billion kickback scheme involving government projects, pleading not guilty Wednesday as his lawyers prepared to seek bail from the Sandiganbayan.
Romualdez entered his plea before the Sandiganbayan Third Division through videoconference from the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, where he is being detained while facing the plunder charge.
The anti-graft court denied Romualdez’s request to dispense with the reading of the criminal information, requiring the allegations against him to be formally read before his plea was entered.
His counsel also informed the court that Romualdez would file an application for bail in an attempt to secure his temporary release while the plunder case is being tried.
Apart from the criminal proceedings, the Sandiganbayan directed Romualdez to explain within 10 days why he should not be preventively suspended as Leyte representative while the case remains pending.
The preventive suspension issue will be resolved separately from the merits of the plunder charge.
Romualdez was transferred to the Quezon City jail after an independent medical assessment by the Philippine General Hospital found him “clinically stable” and determined that he no longer required continued hospital confinement.
PGH doctors, however, said Romualdez still required medical care. He was subsequently placed in the jail infirmary for medical monitoring.
Romualdez, resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two other individuals were accused of obtaining around P7.44 billion in commissions, shares, kickbacks and other financial benefits.
The alleged payments were reportedly sourced from contractors and other entities connected to flood control, infrastructure and other government projects funded between 2022 and 2025.
Romualdez has denied wrongdoing in connection with the allegations./PN
