Manila, Sept. 16 -- Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the plunder charge against him before the Sandiganbayan.

During the proceedings via videoconferencing, the anti-graft court turned down the defense's plea to postpone the lawmaker's transfer from the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital in Manila to the Quezon City Jail, or to transfer him to a government hospital in Quezon City.

The Sandiganbayan on Sept. 7 ordered Romualdez's arrest along with fugitive former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others for their alleged part in a scheme involving kickbacks amounting to PHP7.44 billion from parties in government flood control projects.

The defense said they plan to a...