It is in connection with his alleged participation in the flood control corruption case.
On Monday, September 7, following a raffle, the Sandiganbayan Third Division was awarded the plunder case filed on the same day by the Office of the Ombudsman against former House Speaker and Leyte first district representative Martin Romualdez.
The said case in connection with the lawmaker’s alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal and supposedly receiving kickbacks amounting to PHP7.44 billion from it, as well as other projects.
Other respondents who were named include expelled lawmaker and former House appropriations panel chairperson Zaldy Co, Romualdez’s personak assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp. President Felicito Cristobal Guevarra.
“Ito po, base sa ebidensiya. Inabot kami ng pitong buwan sa pagkukumpuni sa kasong ito,” noted Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla during a press confrence on Monday afternoon.
The Ombudsman also noted that they will file cases against more personalities in the coming weeks and months.
“At hindi pa naman ito ‘yung huling kaso eh. Sunod-sunod pa ito. At marami pa kaming pa-file-an. Ibang-iba ito,” Remulla also told.
Meanwhile, following the release of the arrest warrant, the former House Speaker was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in Quezon City at 4:00 pm due to unstable blood pressure.
Just before 7:00 pm, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., and personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led by its Chief PMGen. Robert Alexander Morico, headed to the health facility.
Speaking to members of the media SILG Remulla told that Romualdez is already “considered arrested,” with authorities having served the warrant and conducted the booking procedures.
However, he noted that the court has yet to decide on whether Romualdez will be placed on hospital arrest or will be brought to the Payatas City Jail in Quezon City—where other personalities involved in the flood control corruption scandal were brought to.
At present, Romualdez’s camp has not yet issued any statement regarding the matter.
