Sandiganbayan orders Martin Romualdez's doctors to testify on his health condition - GMA Network

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has issued a subpoena ordering the doctors of former speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez to show up before the court for the Sept. 10 hearing on the lawmaker's motion for hospital detention.

“It (subpoena for the doctors) was sent yesterday,” Atty. Dennis Pulma, clerk of court of the anti-graft court’s Third Division, told GMA News Online on Wednesday.

Pulma made the confirmation a day before the scheduled court hearing on Romualdez’s motion for temporary hospital arrest at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.

The former speaker, who is facing a P7.4-billion plunder charge, alongside three others, over alleged links to the flood control projects kickback scheme, is currently confined at the said hospital due to heart and brain-related illnesses.

Aside from the doctors, the Sandiganbayan Third Divison earlier ordered Romualdez, if his health condition permits, to show up at the court on Sept. 10 before the scheduled 10:30 a.m. hearing on his hospital arrest pleading.

Earlier in the day, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the Ombudsman will oppose Romualdez’s motion for hospital arrest, saying his illnesses can be managed outside the hospital.

“The prosecutors will strongly oppose the motion. In fact, the prosecutors will ask that not just one doctor but a team of government doctors assess whether or not the illnesses declared need confinement or can be managed outside of the hospital,” Clavano said.

“If his illnesses can be managed from outside of the hospital, the prosecutors will move that he be immediately transferred to the regular detention facility as all other accused in non-bailable cases,” Clavano added.

In his motion for temporary hospital detention, Romualdez said that such motion “rests exclusively on documented medical necessity, remains subject to continuous custody and judicial supervision, and may be independently verified by a court-designated or government physician.” —KG, GMA News