The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the transfer of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory after an independent medical assessment found that he no longer requires hospital confinement.

UP-Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi told the anti-graft court on Monday that Romualdez is clinically stable and may be discharged from the hospital at any time.

Based on PGH’s examination, Romualdez’s cardiac condition does not require continued hospitalization. The assessment also found no medical basis for further hospital confinement due to his mental health condition.

The findings were presented after the Sandiganbayan ordered Romualdez to undergo an independent medical evaluation at PGH to determine whether his continued confinement in a hospital was necessary.

The court had earlier directed that Romualdez be examined by government doctors following his request to remain under hospital detention due to reported heart, neurological and mental health concerns. PGH’s assessment found his risk of an impending heart attack to be low and concluded that hospital confinement was not medically required.

Following the medical findings, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Romualdez transferred to the detention facility under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Quezon City.

The court had previously issued a commitment order directing that Romualdez be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, but his physical transfer had been held pending resolution of his request for continued hospital confinement.

Romualdez is facing a P7.44-billion plunder case over allegations of kickbacks linked to government infrastructure projects. He has denied wrongdoing.