The Sandiganbayan orders former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, accused of plunder, to be transferred to the male dormitory of the Quezon City Jail in Payatas. The decision follows the anti-graft court’s ruling on Monday, with Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla saying Romualdez is expected to arrive at the jail around midnight.
Romualdez is facing plunder charges tied to alleged kickbacks totaling about P7.2 billion to P7.4 billion, depending on the figures cited by reports, and he is arraigned at the Sandiganbayan Third Division. Inquirer.net reports that he pleads not guilty during the arraignment conducted via teleconferencing from a facility at the New Quezon City Jail, after being hospitalized for about a week. Other outlets emphasize that the court’s transfer order is implemented and that Romualdez is said to respect the court’s decision while maintaining his innocence.
Overall, all accounts focus on the court-ordered move to the QC jail and the next procedural step—his arraignment and plea—within the plunder case.
