MANILA — Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez must personally appear before the Sandiganbayan on October 12 as the anti-graft court begins hearings on his bid for bail in the P7.4-billion plunder case stemming from alleged irregularities in government flood control projects.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Romualdez to attend the initial bail hearing at 8:30 a.m. and personally sign the pre-trial order.
“Accused Romualdez is required to be present and sign the pre-trial order during the initial bail hearing on October 12, 2026, at 8:30 in the morning,” the court said.
Romualdez is expected to formally file his petition for bail on September 28, according to his lawyer, Ade Fajardo.
The directive followed the completion of the pre-trial conference, during which evidence from both the prosecution and defense was marked and read into the proceedings.
Romualdez participated remotely in Friday’s proceedings from the New Quezon City Jail, where he remains detained while receiving treatment for brain- and heart-related ailments.
After the October 12 hearing, the Sandiganbayan scheduled the bail proceedings every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with sessions at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., except on legal holidays or when the court has official activities.
Prosecutors are expected to present 23 witnesses during the bail hearings. The court directed the prosecution to submit its witness list by October 2, along with the proposed schedule for the presentation of each witness.
Meanwhile, the separate presentation of evidence in the main P7.4-billion plunder case is scheduled to begin on November 23 and will likewise proceed every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Romualdez is facing the plunder case with three other accused over their alleged involvement in irregularities involving government flood control projects.
The case forms part of a broader investigation into alleged anomalies surrounding government-funded flood control projects./PN
