Leyte 1st District Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez remains “medically unfit to travel” and will not attend Thursday’s Sandiganbayan hearing on his petition for hospital arrest, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said.

PNP spokesperson Pol. Col. Allen Rae Co told DZRH News that this was based on the latest medical certification issued by Romualdez’s doctors at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, according in a report of RH Edniel Parrosa on DZRH's Damdaming Bayan.

The medical certification means Romualdez will be unable to appear before the Sandiganbayan Third Division for the hearing on his motion seeking continued hospital confinement.

The Sandiganbayan is set to hold a hearing on Thursday, September 10, to determine whether Romualdez will remain under hospital arrest.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier said on Tuesday that Romualdez is considered a “flight risk.”

Romualdez was arrested on Monday, September 7, over a P7.44-billion plunder case but remained under hospital confinement at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued arrest warrants against Romualdez and three other accused on Monday, hours after the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges in connection with alleged kickbacks from flood control projects.

The court also issued hold departure orders against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Joselyn Serenio, and Felicito Guevarra.

Plunder is a non-bailable offense. Romualdez is accused of receiving P7.44 billion in kickbacks from Co in connection with the alleged irregularities in flood control projects.