Romualdez yet to file petition for bail

MANILA (UPDATED) — Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has not submitted a petition for bail yet, the Sandiganbayan Third Division said on Thursday.

The former House speaker has been detained at the Quezon City Jail due to a plunder charge in relation to an alleged P7.4-billion kickback scheme in government projects. 

His legal team previously said it will proceed with lodging a petition. But Atty. Dennis Pulma, the clerk of court of the anti-graft court’s third division, said they have not received any petition yet.

The pre-trial on the congressman’s case is set for Friday morning.

Pulma said the court granted Romualdez’s manifestation with motion for him to attend the pre-trial through videoconference. 

Romualdez, who attended his arraignment via teleconference, earlier entered a not guilty plea.

The lawmaker was arrested at a private hospital in San Juan City, where he was admitted due to several illnesses including hypertension and diabetes.

The Sandiganbayan ordered his transfer to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) for an independent medical examination. 

He was then transferred to the Quezon City Jail after PGH Medical Director Gerardo Legaspi testified that Romualdez is clinically stable and does not need hospital confinement.

Aside from Romualdez, former congressman Zaldy Co and two others are facing the same charge.