The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the transfer of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) on Saturday, September 12, for an independent medical examination.
The order was issued Friday following nearly six hours of hearing on Romualdez’s motion seeking to remain confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
Under the order signed by Sandiganbayan Third Division Chairperson Justice Karl Miranda, doctors from UP-PGH will take charge of Romualdez’s medical assessment and conduct a series of medical tests to determine his current health condition.
Miranda stressed that Romualdez’s doctors at Cardinal Santos Medical Center should have no direct or indirect participation in the independent medical examination.
The UP-PGH doctors have been ordered to submit their findings to the court on Monday, September 14.
Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan reset Romualdez’s arraignment and pre-trial, originally scheduled for September 14, to Wednesday, September 16.
The court also ordered that Romualdez remain under the care of UP-PGH until further orders.
The defense presented five of Romualdez’s doctors from Cardinal Santos Medical Center during the hearing to provide an assessment of his medical condition.
The Sandiganbayan has yet to announce the specific time for Romualdez’s transfer to UP-PGH.
On Thursday, Sandiganbayan issued a commitment order directing the detention of Romualdez at the Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory in Payatas.
Romualdez is facing a ₱7.4-billion non-bailable plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.
