New Martin Romualdez mugshots released after transfer to Quezon City Jail

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 16, 2026

Photo courtesy: Department of the Interior and Local Government

New mugshots of former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez have been released following his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, where he is being detained in connection with a multibillion-peso plunder case.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government released the photographs on Tuesday, September 15, showing Romualdez standing in a yellow detainee shirt and black pants. His earlier Philippine National Police booking photos showed him lying in a hospital bed following his arrest.

Romualdez was transferred to the Quezon City jail late Monday after doctors from the Philippine General Hospital told the Sandiganbayan that he was clinically stable and no longer required continued inpatient hospital care.

He is currently staying at the jail infirmary with other persons deprived of liberty who require medical monitoring. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology said the arrangement was based on his medical needs and recommendations presented before the court.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said PGH doctors found Romualdez fit for detention at the BJMP facility while recommending continued medical supervision.

Romualdez was arrested on September 7 after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant in connection with a roughly P7.4-billion plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The case involves allegations that Romualdez and his co-accused received billions of pesos in kickbacks connected to government flood-control and other infrastructure projects. The allegations remain subject to court proceedings, and the filing of the case does not constitute a finding of guilt.

His co-accused include former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Romualdez aide Joselin Serenio and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp. president Felicito Guevarra.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division scheduled Romualdez’s arraignment and pre-trial for September 16, 2026, when he is expected to enter a plea to the plunder charge.