Police authorities returned the served arrest warrant and medical evaluation of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez to the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, September 8.
Col. John Guiagui, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (CIDG-NCR), personally submitted the documentation to the anti-graft court’s Third Division, which is overseeing the plunder charges against the lawmaker.
“Dala ko na ‘yung sa return of warrant, kasama na dito ‘yung mga medical evaluation niya, na ginawa sa Cardinal Santos hospital,” Guiagui told reporters.
Guiagui clarified that Romualdez was already admitted to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City prior to the release of the arrest warrant on Monday, September 7.
“Kahapon before na lumabas ‘yung warrant, nandoon na talaga siya. Kaya nung hinanap natin, after na malabas ‘yung warrant, nakita natin nasa Cardinal Santos siya,” Guiagui said.
Law enforcers executed the warrant directly at the medical facility, where they read the former official his constitutional rights and completed the standard booking process.
“So doon natin sinerve ‘yung warrant, doon natin binasahan ng kanyang karapatan. At the same time, doon na natin ginawa ‘yung booking procedure niya. So ngayon, we just have to return the warrant doon sa Third Division para malaman na na-serve ‘yung warrant,” Guiagui added.
Medical History and Legal Proceedings
Prior to the court’s order, Romualdez submitted a 12-page motion requesting permission to remain at the hospital under official custody. He cited multiple serious health concerns, including:
- Hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and coronary artery disease
- Unstable angina and cerebrovascular ischemic disease
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and primary hypothyroidism
A medical certificate attached to the filing indicated that he was admitted on September 7—the same day the Sandiganbayan found probable cause to issue the arrest order.
Court records also show Romualdez underwent an angioplasty procedure in October 2024 and was previously hospitalized in July due to ongoing cardiovascular issues.
The arrest warrants and accompanying hold departure orders were issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, Jocelyn Sereño, and Felicito Guevarra.
The charges, filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, stem from an alleged ₱7.4-billion kickback scheme involving government flood-control and infrastructure projects.