Romualdez Seeks Temporary Release in P7.44-B Plunder Case
MARTIN ROMUALDEZ – The former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District representative
has filed a petition for bail before the Sandiganbayan Third Division in connection with his P7.44-billion plunder case.
The Sandiganbayan confirmed that Romualdez’s lawyers submitted the petition at around 12:05 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026. The court scheduled the bail hearings from October 12 to November 12, every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
Romualdez is currently detained at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas over the plunder charge. The case was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with allegations involving a government infrastructure kickback scheme and supposed P7.44 billion in ill-gotten wealth.
The case is linked to the ongoing controversy involving flood control projects. Romualdez has denied the allegations and previously pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on September 16. The arraignment was conducted through videoconference while he was detained at the Quezon City Jail.
Romualdez was arrested at a private hospital in San Juan City, where he had been admitted for medical conditions including hypertension and diabetes. Following his arrest, the Sandiganbayan ordered him transferred to the Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical examination.
He was later moved to the Quezon City Jail after PGH Medical Director Gerardo Legaspi testified that Romualdez was clinically stable and did not need to remain in the hospital. Aside from Romualdez, former congressman Zaldy Co and two other individuals are also facing the same plunder charge over the alleged kickback scheme.
The bail petition will now undergo hearings before the Sandiganbayan. The court will hear arguments from both the prosecution and defense before deciding whether Romualdez may be released on bail while the case continues.
The hearings are expected to focus on the evidence presented in the plunder case and whether the legal requirements for granting bail have been met. The main case will continue regardless of the outcome of the bail proceedings.
Related Post: Martin Romualdez Asserts That He Is Innocent
