Romualdez allowed to sign court order in jail

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division has granted the request of former speaker Martin Romualdez to sign a court order on Oct. 12 while in detention at the New Quezon City Jail.

Romualdez had requested permission to be allowed to sign the pre-trial order while he was at the city jail.

The order is issued following a pre-trial conference, during which both the prosecution and defense mark their respective evidence and lay out the facts and issues to be tackled during the trial.

This will serve as a record of matters taken up during the conferences, amendments allowed to the pleadings and agreements or admissions made by the parties.

“The Sandiganbayan Third Division has granted accused Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez’s motion to sign the Pre-trial Order at BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology) Payatas, Q.C. on Oct. 12, 2026,” the Third Division’s clerk of court, Dennis Pulma, said.

The hearing for Romualdez’s petition for bail will start tomorrow.

Romualdez, along with former lawmaker and now fugitive Zaldy Co and two other individuals, are facing plunder charges for allegedly receiving around P7.4 billion in kickbacks from government projects from 2022 to 2025.

The court also allowed Romualdez to remotely attend the hearings via video conference, provided that he will immediately submit an informed waiver in accordance with the guidelines on the conduct of video conferencing.

In previous proceedings, including his arraignment where he entered a not guilty plea, the former speaker attended through video conference.

The anti-graft court, however, said it may still request the former speaker to appear in person should it become necessary.