Romualdez now behind bars

MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez is now at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas on Monday night.

Romualdez came from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) where he was confined over the weekend.

The convoy of Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) personnel from PGH brought Romualdez to the jail facility at 10:49 p.m. 

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BJMP spokesperson Capt. Jayrex Bustinera confirmed Romualdez’s arrival at the jail facility. 

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Bustinera said the lawmaker will undergo standard booking procedures such as medical evaluation, fingerprint, mugshot, interview, and orientation. 

Earlier, there were reports that Romualdez will arrive at Payatas jail no later than 6 p.m. and the reason for apparent delay was not immediately clear.

On Monday noon, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered to transfer the custody of Romualdez to the jail facility from PGH.

READ: Sandiganbayan orders Romualdez’s transfer to QC jail in PayatasThis order was made after the testimony of PGH director Gerardo Legaspi, who told the court that Romualdez can be discharged at any time since he was medically stable, based on the examination done by a dozen specialists at the premier state-run hospital.

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READ: Romualdez can be discharged from PGH, says hospital director

According to Legazpi, PGH specialists determined that Romualdez has low risk for heart attack, while his hypertension and diabetes are also controlled. 

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He also confirmed that the lawmaker is suffering from anxiety and depression, but he said these conditions do not warrant hospital confinement.

Before his confinement in PGH, Romualdez had been staying at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where the arrest warrant against him was served on Sept. 7.

On Sept. 7, an arrest warrant was issued by this court against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two others for plunder involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion. 

=READ: Romualdez leaves PGH, to be transferred to QC jail

The amount allegedly came from contractors, persons and entities with interests in flood control, infrastructure and/or other government projects funded under the General Appropriations Acts for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, according to prosecutors.

Romualdez denies such accusations: “I maintain my innocence.”

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“I have always said that I will face the charges against me and answer them before the proper court,” he said in a statement on Monday. “That has not changed.” /das/cb