Romualdez Served Arrest Warrant at Hospital as ₱7.4-Billion Plunder Case Rocks Philippine Politics
Former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez was served an arrest warrant at a hospital on Monday, September 7, after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest in connection with a ₱7.4-billion plunder case linked to alleged kickbacks from government flood-control and infrastructure projects.
Authorities served the warrant at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, where Romualdez had been confined after reportedly suffering a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure and an anxiety attack.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the warrant was served while Romualdez remained under medical care. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Philippine National Police officials were at the hospital as authorities carried out the arrest procedure.
Arrest carried out despite hospital confinement
The development followed the filing of a formal plunder case by the Office of the Ombudsman against Romualdez and three other accused: former Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, Romualdez aide Joselyn Serenio and money changer Felicito Guevarra.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division subsequently issued arrest warrants after evaluating the prosecution's submissions.
The court stressed that the issuance of a warrant means it found probable cause to believe that an offense had been committed and that the accused may be responsible. It does not, however, constitute a finding of guilt.
GMA News reported that authorities had already made clear that Romualdez would be arrested even if he remained hospitalized. The warrant was eventually served inside his hospital room, where police also conducted booking procedures and read him his rights.
What is Romualdez accused of?
According to the criminal information cited by Inquirer and GMA News, prosecutors allege that Romualdez and Co repeatedly received commissions, kickbacks and other financial benefits totaling at least ₱7.4 billion from contractors and other individuals connected to government projects from 2022 to 2025.
The allegations are tied to the broader controversy surrounding flood-control spending, an issue that has triggered investigations into projects that prosecutors and investigators allege were overpriced, defective or, in some cases, nonexistent.
The Ombudsman alleges that portions of the money were subsequently moved through corporations described in the case as shell or dummy companies and were used in transactions involving properties and other assets.
These allegations remain subject to court proceedings, and Romualdez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Hospital custody instead of immediate transfer to jail
Romualdez's legal team has asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to remain under hospital confinement for as long as doctors determine that inpatient treatment is medically necessary.
His camp cited several medical conditions in its request, while maintaining that he would remain under lawful custody and judicial supervision.
Authorities, meanwhile, said the hospital confinement does not cancel the arrest warrant.
Philstar reported that the Sandiganbayan Third Division specifically stated that the warrant and hold-departure order remain in force and must be implemented. Any question about whether Romualdez's medical condition affects detention is ultimately for the court to determine.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla also said authorities would monitor Romualdez's medical condition and coordinate with doctors before any eventual transfer to a regular detention facility.
Security tightened around hospital
Security was subsequently tightened around Cardinal Santos Medical Center following the arrest.
ABS-CBN reported that additional police presence was deployed around the hospital after Romualdez was taken into custody.
The case has attracted intense national attention because Romualdez is a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and was one of the most powerful figures in the House of Representatives before leaving the speakership.
The arrest also comes amid a wider political and legal reckoning over alleged irregularities in the government's multibillion-peso flood-control program.
Romualdez faces more legal pressure
The Ombudsman has indicated that the plunder case could be only the beginning of further legal action involving Romualdez and alleged irregularities surrounding government projects.
The former Speaker has denied wrongdoing and, through his lawyers, said he would respect the legal process and face the allegations in court.
The international significance of the case was underscored by the Associated Press, which reported that the allegations involve approximately ₱7.4 billion, or about $118 million, allegedly diverted from projects within a much larger government flood-control program. AP also noted that the scandal has drawn heightened scrutiny because the Philippines is highly vulnerable to typhoons and flooding.
For now, Romualdez remains under custody while hospitalized. The crucial next question is whether the Sandiganbayan will allow continued hospital confinement—or order his eventual transfer to a detention facility once doctors determine that he is medically fit.
The arrest may have happened inside a hospital room, but the bigger battle is now moving to the courtroom.