MANILA, Philippines — Former Speaker Martin Romualdez asked the Sandiganbayan on Monday to allow him to remain confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center under continuous custody after authorities served his arrest warrant in the P7.44-billion plunder case.
His lawyers filed the motion after the warrant was enforced at the hospital, citing his existing cardiac condition and the need for continued inpatient treatment.
“Medical treatment and lawful custody are not mutually exclusive,” Romualdez’s camp said, asking the court to allow him to remain at the hospital while under round-the-clock security.
The filing cited Romualdez’s coronary artery disease, unstable angina, hypertension, diabetes and other medical conditions, as well as his previous angioplasty in October 2024.
His camp proposed strict hospital custody, including continuous guards, visitor restrictions and regular medical updates to the Sandiganbayan, while barring Romualdez from leaving the hospital without court approval.
The request came hours after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the arrest warrant against Romualdez and his co-accused over alleged P7.44 billion in kickbacks linked to government projects.
The Sandiganbayan has yet to rule on Romualdez’s request for continued hospital confinement.
