Romualdez’s P7.4-billion case moves forward after not-guilty plea

National

IN a wheelchair and appearing before the Sandiganbayan by video link, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez pleaded not guilty to allegations that he received P7.4 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects.

The Leyte representative entered his plea at the New Quezon City Jail after the Sandiganbayan Third Division allowed him to attend the arraignment through video conferencing on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

The anti-graft court rejected Romualdez’s request to waive the reading of the formal charges, finding no merit in the petition. It also denied his request to be transferred to a tertiary hospital in Quezon City, citing medical findings that he was well enough to remain at the jail.

Third Division chairman Associate Justice Karl Miranda cited the Philippine General Hospital’s assessment that Romualdez was clinically stable and did not require continued hospital confinement.

“The mere invocation of ill health is not sufficient for an accused’s continued confinement in a hospital,” Miranda said in a Philstar report, adding that other persons deprived of liberty had medical conditions worse than Romualdez’s.

Romualdez was accompanied by lawyer Jose Roy III during the proceedings. With his not-guilty plea, the case was automatically submitted for trial, with pre-marking of evidence set for September 18, 21, 22, 23 and 24.

Romualdez’s lawyers said they would file a petition for bail.

Lawyer Ade Fajardo said the defense sought video conferencing because Romualdez’s condition remained fragile and they wanted to avoid “contracting an emergency situation.” They also sought to waive the reading of the charges because Romualdez, a lawyer himself, was already aware of the accusations and because the proceedings would cause “additional stress.”

Fajardo said Romualdez continues to maintain his innocence and that the defense would use the bail proceedings to require the prosecution to present its evidence. He added that they would ask the court to consider allowing Romualdez to attend future hearings remotely.

The Office of the Ombudsman has tagged Romualdez as the “central figure” in an alleged multibillion-peso flood control kickback scheme. He was charged with plunder on September 7.

His co-accused are former lawmaker and fugitive Zaldy Co, and private individuals Joselyn Serenio and Felicito Guevarra.

Romualdez was already confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center when the arrest warrant was issued following a cardiovascular event and a supposed panic attack.

Authorities served the warrant and conducted booking procedures at the hospital before he was detained at the New Quezon City Jail infirmary.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said his placement there followed PGH medical recommendations.

“While you might think that the way he was treated was over and above – well just check the commitment orders and recommendation from PGH,” Remulla said in the same article.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte’s spokesman, lawyer Paolo Panelo, said the administration’s sincerity in pursuing corruption cases should be judged by the specific accusations and evidence against Romualdez.

He said it remained to be seen whether the complaint had been filed on the proper basis and whether the government was serious about pursuing the case.(MyTVCebu)