Palace: Romualdez won’t be able to escape plunder raps from hospital

September 9, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

Physicians assessing the health of ex-Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez should be given the benefit of the doubt amid his alleged ailments, Malacañang said on Wednesday as it expressed confidence that Romualdez won’t be able to escape and evade prosecution.

“Sa mga kritiko, hindi mawawala ang kritisismo. Pero hindi natin mapipigil ang mga doktor kung ano ang nakikitang nilang health condition ng isang akusado. Hindi rin naman maipipilit ng PNP o ng pamunuan ng DILG na dalhin agad ang isang akusado na merong nasertipikahan na hindi pa nararapat na tanggalin or i-remove from the hospital,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace press officer Claire Castro said.

“At kung nasa hospital naman po ‘yan, hindi naman po siguro ‘yan makakatakas,” she added.

Castro said physicians would tell the truth about Romualdez’s health.

“Wala po tayong masasabi kung ano ‘yan. Nandyan po ‘yan sa pagtingin ng kanilang mga doktor at ang doktor naman ay dapat nagsasabi ng katotohanan. So we will just give them the benefit of the doubt,” she said.

Romualdez was confined at a private hospital in San Juan City when authorities served the arrest warrant on him last Monday.

He is facing a P 7.4 billion plunder charge in connection with the flood control mess.