Romualdez Mugshots At Quezon City Jail Released
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla made the mugshots public, as he also debunked insinuations by critics that former House speaker Martin Romualdez’s hospital confinement and subsequent arrest were all part of a drama.
Mugshots of Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez were released on Tuesday, Sept.15, to the public, showing the former speaker in yellow detainee shirt and black pants.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla made the mugshots public, as he also debunked insinuations by critics that Romualdez’s hospital confinement and subsequent arrest were all part of a drama.
Unlike his mugshots from the Philippine National Police where he was shown lying in bed, the lawmaker was standing when his photographs were taken.
He was transferred to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory on Payatas Road, but was made to stay at its infirmary ward where he is under medical supervision.
Members of Romualdez’s family, his lawyers and doctors may visit him from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. except on Mondays.
Romualdez arrived at the detention facility Monday night hours after undergoing several medical tests at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), as ordered by the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
Remulla said Romualdez is with three other detainees at the detention facility’s infirmary which has a floor area of around 50 square meters.
The detention facility is under the supervision and control of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The decision to place Romualdez in the infirmary was based on recommendations from PGH doctors, according to Remulla.
“That’s the recommendation of PGH doctors. He is fit to be confined but he has to be under medical supervision,” he said at a news briefing at Camp Crame.
According to Remulla, Romualdez has to undergo an electrocardiogram examination once a week. Remula also debunked insinuations by netizens that Romualdez was pretending to be sick.
“The doctors in PGH said he is fit to be confined at the BJMP but he needs medical supervision. So it’s not drama,” Remulla said.
Far from his luxurious lifestyle, Romualdez is staying in a facility which has no air-conditioning, only an exhaust fan.
It has a bathroom which the lawmaker shares with other inmates. It’s not clear yet when Romualdez will join the jail population, which includes Sens. Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada.
Apart from suffering a stroke last July, Romualdez also has high blood pressure and diabetes.
Romualdez arrived at the detention facility at 10:49 p.m., escorted by BJMP personnel and police officers in compliance with an order from the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
Romualdez is facing a P7.4-billion plunder case in connection with the flood control corruption scandal.
“Considering his medical needs and the medical recommendations presented before the court, Rep. Romualdez has been placed in the jail infirmary together with other PDL requiring medical monitoring,” BJMP spokesman Supt. Jayrex Joseph Busintera said in a message on Viber.
At Malacañang, Palace press officer Claire Castro reiterated that the handling of persons accused of wrongdoing should adhere to existing laws and processes. — Daphne Galvez, Rainier Allan Ronda, Alexis Romero
