MANILA, Philippines — Former speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the P7.4-billion plunder charge filed against him in connection with an alleged government infrastructure kickback scheme.
Romualdez entered his plea via videoconference from the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas after the Sandiganbayan Third Division rejected his request to waive the reading of the criminal information.
Third Division Chairman Associate Justice Karl Miranda said that Romualdez’s medical condition should not prevent the proceedings from moving forward.
“There are many more PDLs who have a worse medical condition compared to Congressman Romualdez,” Miranda said.
