THE Sandiganbayan Third Division has rejected former House Speaker and Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez’s request to be transferred from the New Quezon City Jail to hospital detention, ruling that his health status does not warrant special confinement.
In its decision issued Wednesday, the anti‑graft court emphasized that many other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) face far graver medical conditions yet remain detained in standard facilities. “Invocation of ill health alone is not sufficient to justify continued hospital confinement,” Presiding Justice Karl Miranda stated.
The court’s ruling rested on the independent medical assessment conducted by specialists from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which found Romualdez clinically stable and fit for detention in a regular jail facility. His petition, filed September 14, had sought transfer to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center, citing diagnosed conditions including heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. The court noted that while his health requires monitoring, it does not require inpatient hospital care — a standard that would apply equally to all detainees.
Romualdez formally entered a not guilty plea to the ₱7.4‑billion plunder charge during his arraignment, which was conducted via videoconference from the jail facility as permitted by the court. He stands accused alongside former House appropriations chairperson Zaldy Co, personal assistant Joselyn Serenio, and businessman Felicito Guevarra over alleged kickbacks linked to flood control infrastructure projects. Co‑accused Co, Serenio, and Guevarra remain at large.
Following the denial, Romualdez’s legal counsel Atty. Ade Fajardo confirmed that the camp is reviewing the decision and will pursue available legal remedies should they deem it necessary. The development underscores the court’s stance on equal treatment in detention, even as the former House Speaker continues to face one of the largest corruption cases currently before the anti‑graft tribunal.
metrosundaily
