The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez over his pending plunder case linked to the alleged flood control corruption scandal.
In a statement on Tuesday, November 10, Third Division Executive Clerk Atty. Dennis Pulma confirmed that the court had issued a resolution ordering Romualdez's suspension pendente lite for 90 days upon receipt of the order.
"The resolution orders the former speaker to cease and desist from the functions of his office or any other office," Pulma said.
Romualdez is facing a non-bailable plunder charge over allegations that he received ₱7.44 billion in kickbacks from government projects.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the case before the anti-graft court on September 7. The Sandiganbayan Third Division subsequently issued an arrest warrant and ordered his detention.
The former House Speaker has been detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas since September 14.
The suspension is in accordance with Section 5 of Republic Act No. 7080, or the Plunder Law, which provides for the suspension of public officials facing pending plunder charges before the court.
