Leyte First District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez during the opening of the first regular session of the 20th Congress on July 28, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
MANILA - (UPDATED) The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Thursday said former House Speaker Martin Romualdez would remain confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center until further order from the court.
The clerk of court said that the status quo remains in effect considering that the hearing on Romualdez’s manifestation and urgent motion for hospital confinement has not yet been terminated.
The hearing is set to continue on Sept. 11, when Romualdez’s doctors are expected to return to explain his health condition.
Dr. Rosalio Torres, the team manager of Cardinal Santos Medical Center, testified earlier in the day that Romualdez is considered at high risk of heart attack and transferring him could compromise the critical "golden hour" — the window of time immediately after a symptom when medical intervention is essential to prevent permanent heart muscle damage or death.
The prosecution has asked the court to allow independent government doctors to check on Romualdez’s health condition.
It also said it opposes Romualdez’s motion for continued confinement at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and asked that the congressman be detained at a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology facility.
The court earlier ordered the transfer of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s custody from the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to the BJMP as he faces a plunder charge over the alleged P7.4 billion government infrastructure kickback scheme.
The Commitment Order issued by the court on Thursday morning was addressed to JSUPT. Maria Pacion, BJMP Jail Warden at the Quezon City Jail - Male Dormitory in Payatas.
“We hereby COMMIT to you the living person of accused FERDINAND MARTIN GOMEZ ROMUALDEZ, who is charged in the aforesaid case for the crime of PLUNDER, to be HELD therein as a detention prisoner and as such, the accused shall not be moved, removed, transferred and/or otherwise-be released therefrom unless ordered by the court,” the order read.
Third Division Clerk of Court Atty. Dennis Pulma clarified that while Romualdez’s urgent motion is unresolved, the commitment order on the former Speaker’s transfer to the Payatas City Jail is not yet being implemented.