Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s camp requested that the lawmaker be placed under hospital arrest to allow for his continued confinement, according to a report by RH 5 Val Gonzales on Monday night.

Before the Sandiganbayan office closed for the day, Romualdez’s lawyers submitted an urgent motion for his continued hospital confinement while under custody, according to Atty. Dennis Pulma, the Sandiganbayan Third Division Executive Clerk of Court.

The motion follows the anti-graft court’s warrant of arrest, which stems from a plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

Romualdez was arrested at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Monday. The Leyte congressman was brought to the hospital earlier in the day, at around 4:00 p.m., after experiencing what was described as a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Romualdez, along with resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, Romualdez’s personal aide Joselyn Tragua Serenio, and businessman Felicito Cristobal Guevarra stand accused of plunder in connection to ₱7.4 billion in flood control kickbacks. No bail was recommended.

Remulla assured that Romualdez’s hospitalization does not shield him from the legal process.

“He cannot hide behind his wealth. Kahit gano’ng kayaman siya, hindi niya kaya bayaran ang batas para payagan siya dito sa magandang lugar na 'yan,” the Interior secretary said.