Romualdez Ordered Detained at New Quezon City Jail as Ombudsman Alleges ₱56-Billion Scheme
The Sandiganbayan has ordered former House Speaker Martin Romualdez transferred from hospital confinement to the New Quezon City Jail, as the Ombudsman alleges a ₱56 billion scheme spanning 2022 to 2025.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered former House Speaker Martin Romualdez transferred to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, ending his hospital confinement at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City since his arrest was served the night of September 7, 2026.
The anti-graft court had directed Romualdez to appear at a September 10 hearing specifically on whether there was medical basis for him to remain hospitalized rather than move to a regular detention facility. The court ruled there was not, and ordered the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to take custody. His arraignment, originally set for September 14, has since been moved to September 16.
The Ombudsman’s complaint alleges that Romualdez, together with former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and others, unlawfully amassed approximately ₱56 billion in ill-gotten wealth between 2022 and 2025 in connection with the broader flood control corruption scandal — a larger sum than the ₱7.4 billion figure cited when the arrest warrant was first issued. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has publicly described Romualdez as the "biggest fish" charged in the scandal so far.
Romualdez’s camp had cited unspecified medical conditions in seeking continued hospital confinement; the Philippine National Police separately said he was assessed as "medically unfit to travel" ahead of the hearing. The Sandiganbayan ordered a Philippine General Hospital examination to independently verify the medical claims before ruling on the transfer.
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