Romualdez transferred to PGH for independent medical exam - Rappler
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EX-HOUSE LEADER. Speaker Martin Romualdez graces the first meeting of the Visayas Caucus of the 20th Congress in the House of Representatives on August 7, 2025.
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MANILA, Philippines – Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez was transferred to the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) on Saturday, September 12, to undergo an independent medical examination amid his request for continued hospital confinement.
In its official statement, the UP-PGH said the transfer of the former House speaker from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City to the UP-PGH was “safe and orderly.”
On Friday, September 11, the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan’s Third Division ordered the hospital transfer and independent test on Romualdez, who has been arrested over his P7.44-billion plunder case.
In his motion for continued hospital confinement under custody, Romualdez claimed to have various diseases, including hypertension and heart problems.
The former House speaker was arrested in his hospital room at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Monday, September 7.
Following the Friday court order, he left the hospital at past 8 am on Saturday and arrived at UP-PGH at 8:35 am.
Among those who escorted the ambulance carrying Romualdez were personnel from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
BJMP personnel left the UP-PGH premises past 10 am, which was the scheduled start of the medical test.
“Mananatiling obhetibo at propesyonal ang PGH sa pagsasagawa ng pagsusuri, alinsunod sa pinakamataas na pamantayan sa larangan ng medisina,” the UP-PGH said of its team of specialists who will be conducting the examination.
(The PGH will remain objective and professional in carrying out the examination, in accordance with the high standards of the medicine practice.)
The hospital also said it will not publicly disclose Romualdez’s condition or test results, except those that will be presented in court, to protect the confidentiality of his medical information.Romualdez will stay in UP-PGH until further court orders.UP-PGH doctors are directed to submit their report and recommendation on the medical examination on Sunday, September 13. They are told to testify on Monday, September 14, as to “whether there is an imperative need” for Romualdez’s continued hospital confinement.After the resolution on his request for hospital confinement, the former speaker will be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas. – Rappler.com
