Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez is now officially under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) following a formal turnover at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026.
From Police Hands to Jail Bureau Control
The formal transition of custody took place at precisely 4:15 p.m., according to a statement released by the BJMP to reporters. Previously, the Philippine National Police (PNP) held jurisdiction over Romualdez after serving his arrest warrant on Monday night while he was confined to his hospital bed for a variety of purported ailments.
The latest handover stems directly from a commitment order issued by the Sandiganbayan Third Division. While the court directed the jail bureau to assume legal responsibility, it also stipulated that Romualdez’s confinement at the medical facility would remain in place until further instructions are handed down. According to Sandiganbayan Third Division clerk of court Dennis Pulma, the former speaker’s hospital stay continues while his legal camp pushes for prolonged medical confinement through pending court motions.
Strict Protocols and the Question of Special Treatment
The jail bureau emphasized in its official communications that the former legislative leader will face standard detention conditions.
“Rep. Romualdez will be accorded the same treatment and privileges as other persons deprived of liberty, with no VIP or special treatment,” the bureau maintained.
Once medical clearance is granted and the court issues a subsequent discharge order, authorities will move Romualdez out of the private hospital room and into the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory located in Payatas, Quezon City. Until that medical green light flashes, he remains strictly under BJMP guard within the hospital walls.
The Scale of the Plunder Charges
The legal jeopardy facing the former speaker centers on staggering financial allegations. Romualdez stands accused of repeatedly receiving commissions, shares, percentages, kickbacks, commitments, and other pecuniary benefits totaling P7.44 billion through various government projects executed between 2022 and 2025.
What Lies Ahead in the Courts
The immediate legal battleground rests on whether the Sandiganbayan will grant the defense motion to maintain hospital confinement indefinitely or order an immediate transfer to the Payatas facility upon clearance.
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