MANILA — Former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to remain under detention at Cardinal Santos Medical Center while facing a P7.4-billion plunder case over an alleged kickback scheme involving government flood control projects.
Romualdez, who has since been placed under arrest and booked inside his hospital room, asked the anti-graft court to recognize the medical facility as his place of lawful custody for as long as doctors deem inpatient treatment necessary.
The request came after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant Monday against Romualdez and his co-accused. Romualdez had been confined at the San Juan City hospital since September 7 when the warrant was issued.
The Office of the Ombudsman charged Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Romualdez’s personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp. president Felicito Cristobal Guevarra with plunder over their alleged participation in a kickback scheme involving flood control projects.
In a nine-page manifestation filed before the Sandiganbayan, Romualdez cited several medical conditions affecting his heart and brain in seeking continued hospital confinement.
He asked the court to allow authorities to serve the arrest warrant at the hospital and permit him to remain there under lawful custody while doctors consider inpatient treatment medically necessary.
Under his proposed arrangement, Romualdez would complete all required booking and custodial documentation at the hospital following service of the warrant.
He also sought continuous medical supervision by Dr. Rosalio Torres and other hospital officers designated by the court, round-the-clock security, restrictions on visitors and the maintenance of a visitor log.
The proposed arrangement would prohibit Romualdez from leaving or being transferred from the hospital without court approval. His attendance at court proceedings would also be subject to medical recommendations and judicial orders.
Romualdez asked the court to recognize that his submission to the arrest warrant would not constitute an abandonment of his earlier objections to the case.
His filing cited an angioplasty procedure he underwent in October 2024 due to coronary artery disease and said he has since required continuing cardiac monitoring and treatment.
“He is currently confined due to the following: Hypertensive Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Unstable Angina, Coronary Artery Disease, S/P PCI (post percutaneous coronary intervention), Cerebrovascular Ischemic Disease, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, and Primary Hypothyroidism,” the motion read.
“… Accused previously underwent Angioplasty Surgery on 05 October 2024 due to Coronary Artery Disease, and has since required continuing cardiac monitoring and treatment,” it added.
The filing argued that Romualdez’s condition required uninterrupted inpatient care and warned of possible medical risks if his treatment were disrupted or he were transferred elsewhere.
Torres also undertook to immediately inform the court of any significant change in Romualdez’s condition or once he becomes medically fit to leave the hospital.
Authorities subsequently served the arrest warrant on Romualdez at Cardinal Santos Medical Center and conducted the booking procedure inside his hospital room. He was informed of the warrant and his legal rights in the presence of his lawyer.
Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said his client would answer the allegations through the judicial process.
“We respect the courts and the legal process. Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will face the allegations against him in accordance with law,” Fajardo said.
“We recognize the public interest surrounding this case. But ultimately, criminal liability must be determined by the evidence presented in court, under the rules and safeguards of our justice system,” he added.
Fajardo stressed that Romualdez, a cousin of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., was not asking for preferential treatment.
“Representative Romualdez asks for no special treatment. Katotohanan, ebidensya, at patas na proseso ang dapat manaig (The truth, evidence, and fair process must prevail),” Fajardo said.
“He asks only for the same due process and fair hearing guaranteed to every Filipino,” he added./PN
