MANILA, Philippines — Former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez was hospitalized Monday after doctors reported that he suffered a “cardiovascular event” and what Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla described as a possible panic or anxiety attack.
Remulla said Romualdez went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City at around 4 p.m. Monday after experiencing unstable blood pressure and an anxiety attack.
“According to the doctors, he’s suffered from a cardiovascular event. His blood pressure was unstable and he was having an anxiety attack,” Remulla told reporters.
Doctors from the Philippine National Police also went to the hospital to assess Romualdez’s condition and coordinate with his medical team, Remulla said.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Romualdez taken into government custody after the Office of the Ombudsman filed charges against him Monday.
The Ombudsman accused Romualdez of receiving P7.44 billion in alleged kickbacks from flood control, infrastructure and other government projects from 2022 to 2025.
Remulla said authorities would monitor Romualdez’s condition and bring him before the court once doctors determine that he can proceed.
“We will check every day until he is well enough to be presented to the court,” Remulla said.
Remulla also said Romualdez could not use his wealth to avoid government custody and indicated that authorities had prepared a detention facility at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas if the court orders his commitment there.
He did not provide a timeline for Romualdez’s booking procedures.