FORMER HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez may have been officially considered a detainee, but has yet set foot in jail since being “arrested” at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City almost a week ago.
He has remained in the hospital pending results of an assessment of Romualdez’s medical conditions – but not in the same hospital.
At around 8:30 a.m. today (September 12), Romualdez was spotted at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in Manila after the Sandiganbayan ordered the transfer of the former house leader for an “independent medical examination.”
He was accompanied by Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel. Cops meanwhile secured the PGH perimeter.
According to the Sandiganbayan, whatever result comes out from the PGH assessment would be made as basis as to whether or not Romualdez could stay in the hospital while the non-bailable plunder case is being heard.
Otherwise, the Leyte congressman would be detained at the Quezon City Jail, as stipulated in its commitment order.
Romualdez’s private doctors earlier told the anti-graft court that he is suffering from fluctuating blood pressure and the risk of a stroke, for which the former House Speaker should remain in the hospital.
He was also allegedly diagnosed with depressive disorder with anxiety.
The Sandiganbayan gave the PGH doctors two days to complete the medical examination and submit their assessment of Romualdez’s health condition.
The former House official is facing a P7.4-billion plunder charge in relation to the so-called flood control scandal. He was arrested on Monday night at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center where he was supposedly confined.
His co-accused are former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co has yet to be arrested though.
Aside from Romualdez and Co, also charged were the congressman’s personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation president Felicito Cristobal Guevarra.
