The Sandiganbayan Third Division allows former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to sign a court pre-trial order while detained. Multiple outlets report that the court grants Romualdez’s motion to sign the order on October 12 while he remains at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.
The reports say the decision comes after a request from Romualdez, with the Sandiganbayan clerk of court informing reporters that the motion was approved. Romualdez is facing plunder charges, alongside former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two other individuals, over allegations involving kickbacks from government projects amounting to more than PHP 7 billion.
While the outlets largely focus on the same event—permission to sign the pre-trial order from detention—they differ slightly in wording and emphasis, including references to the specific jail site and the phrasing of the order’s signing date.
