THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the transfer of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez from Cardinal Santos Medical Center to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) by 10:00 a.m. on September 12.
The state‑run PGH will serve as the facility where Romualdez will undergo continued medical confinement while facing ₱7.4‑billion plunder charges in connection with the alleged flood control project kickback scheme. The order comes amid the anti‑graft court’s review of his motion to remain in private hospital detention, which it has now effectively denied by directing his transfer to a government medical facility.
Romualdez stands accused alongside former House Appropriations Committee chairperson Zaldy Co, his personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation. The plunder case stems from allegations that the group amassed billions in kickbacks and unlawful commissions from flood control infrastructure projects between 2022 and 2025 — charges Romualdez has consistently denied. The court’s transfer order ensures that his custody and care will be managed in a public hospital setting under official supervision, rather than at a private medical facility.
Depressive disorder with anxiety
During the hearing, Romualdez’s psychiatrist, Dr. Lourdes Ignacio, testified that the lawmaker has been diagnosed with depressive disorder with anxiety, for which he has been prescribed oral medications and regular mindfulness sessions.
Her testimony was presented to support his motion for continued hospital arrest, arguing that his condition requires close medical supervision. Despite the disclosure of his health condition, the court ruled that PGH — the country’s premier state‑run tertiary hospital — is fully capable of providing the necessary treatment and monitoring, thereby balancing legitimate medical needs with the requirements of public accountability and custodial oversight.
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