The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday rejected former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s motion for reconsideration seeking his removal from the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory and transfer to a government hospital.
Associate Justice Karl Miranda, chair of the division, ruled Romualdez’s condition does not merit hospital detention, stressing that other PDLs suffer worse conditions than him.
“There are many more PDLs that have a worse medical condition compared to Congressman Romualdez,” Miranda said.
The court had already ordered Romualdez’s detention in Payatas on September 14 after PGH medical director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi confirmed he was clinically stable, could be discharged at any time, and no longer required confinement in an acute‑care hospital.
Romualdez’s camp tried to justify his hospital stay by citing Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, depressive disorder, anxiety, and other illnesses, even asking for up to six more weeks of private hospital detention.
But Legaspi told the Sandiganbayan that his condition is clinically stable, with low risk of an impending heart attack based on independent evaluation. He stressed confinement for his cardiac problem is not medically required.
Legaspi added that chronic coronary syndrome remains present but unstable angina was ruled out. He confirmed Romualdez has major depressive disorder and anxiety needing psychiatric treatment, but not hospital admission—since he shows no grave instability, can manage basic self‑care, and poses no suicidal risk.
Romualdez’s Type 2 diabetes and hypertension are controlled but require monitoring. He was also found to have sleep apnea, for which Legaspi recommended a CPAP machine. Meanwhile, his hypothyroidism has been managed.
He was transferred late Monday to the Payatas facility and placed in its infirmary with three other detainees requiring medical monitoring. Jail officials said his private doctors may examine him inside the facility and that he may be taken to a hospital if an emergency arises.
Romualdez was arrested over a ₱7.44‑billion plunder case filed by the Ombudsman involving kickbacks tied to flood‑control and other government infrastructure projects.
