Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has been transferred to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, Quezon City, following a Sandiganbayan order ending his hospital confinement.

Romualdez was brought to the jail Monday night, September 14, after doctors from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) found him clinically stable and said there was no imperative medical need for him to remain confined in an acute-care hospital.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered that Romualdez be held at the facility as a detention prisoner.

According to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Romualdez was subsequently placed in the jail infirmary, where he is being housed with other persons deprived of liberty who require medical attention.

Romualdez was arrested on September 7 while confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant against him in connection with a ₱7.44-billion plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The case involves allegations that Romualdez and his co-accused received billions of pesos in kickbacks linked to flood-control, infrastructure and other government projects. Romualdez has maintained his innocence and said he will answer the allegations before the proper court.

His arraignment and pre-trial are scheduled for September 16 at 8:30 AM before the Sandiganbayan Third Division. During the arraignment, Romualdez will be asked to enter his plea to the plunder charge.

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