FALSE: Romualdez was not arrested, hospital photo was AI-generated

Francine Balang

A social media post claims that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was not arrested and that the photo of his alleged arrest at a hospital was AI-generated.

CLAIM: 

The image purports to show Romualdez at a hospital while claiming that reports of his arrest are false.

RATING: FALSE

CONCLUSION:

The photo is authentic and shows Romualdez at a hospital following his arrest. Contrary to the post’s claim, Romualdez was indeed arrested, and the image was not AI-generated.

THE FACTS:

• On September 7, 2026, authorities served Romualdez with a warrant of arrest at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City over a plunder case filed before the Sandiganbayan
• Romualdez had been taken to the hospital earlier that day after experiencing a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
• Because Romualdez was receiving medical treatment and had medical equipment attached to him, the standard orange detainee shirt was placed over his medical gown rather than worn normally.
• The DILG later released the official photograph of Romualdez during his hospital arrest, confirming that the image was a genuine photograph of the actual event.

THE BOTTOMLINE:

The post misrepresents both the arrest and the photo. Romualdez was arrested while at the hospital, and the image is a genuine photograph, not an AI creation.