The Sandiganbayan has directed the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to take former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez into custody as a detention prisoner in connection with a plunder case involving an alleged ₱7.4-billion kickback scheme tied to government infrastructure projects.
The commitment order was issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division and addressed to JSupt. Maria Pacion, warden of the Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory in Payatas.
The anti-graft court has set Romualdez’s arraignment and pretrial proceedings for September 14.
During a separate hearing on Thursday, the court also discussed Romualdez’s medical condition as questions remained over where he should be detained while facing the charges.
Prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman asked the Sandiganbayan to allow independent doctors to conduct an assessment of Romualdez’s health. They opposed his request to remain at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center instead of being transferred to BJMP custody.
“We pray that the accused be detained at the BJMP,” the prosecution told the court.
Romualdez had been ordered to attend the hearing but was earlier declared medically unfit to travel by physicians from Cardinal Santos Medical Center.