Romualdez’s medical condition faces review

The Office of the Ombudsman said Wednesday it would seek an independent assessment of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s medical condition after his camp asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to remain confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said prosecutors would strongly oppose the motion and ask a team of government doctors to determine whether Romualdez’s illnesses require hospitalization or can be managed outside the facility.

“The prosecutors will strongly oppose the motion. In fact, the prosecutors will ask that not just one doctor but a team of government doctors assess whether or not the illnesses declared need confinement or can be managed outside of the hospital,” Clavano said.

The Ombudsman filed plunder charges Monday against Romualdez, former Congressman Zaldy Co and two private individuals for allegedly conspiring to amass P56 billion in ill-gotten wealth from public funds between 2022 and 2025.

The development comes amid renewed attention to Romualdez’s 21 April video statement during the flood control anomalies controversy, in which he said:

“I will defend myself fully. I will not allow myself to be turned into a scapegoat so that others who are actually accountable can walk away clean. If this is a political play to push me out and close the story, tarnishing my name and my reputation, then I’m telling everyone now: I will not go quietly, and I will not go alone. I will not be the fall guy for other people’s corruption.”

Allies of Vice President Sara Duterte and other commentators have treated the statement as a warning that Romualdez could implicate higher officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., if pursued legally.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued arrest warrants for the four accused on the same day.

Authorities found Romualdez at Cardinal Santos, where they served the warrant. He had reportedly been confined there since 7 September due to chest pains and difficulty breathing. His medical report, submitted with his urgent motion for hospital confinement, also listed 7 September as his admission date.

Regular detention

Clavano said prosecutors would seek Romualdez’s transfer to a regular detention facility if government doctors determine that his condition does not require hospitalization.

“If his illnesses can be managed from outside of the hospital, the prosecutors will move that he be immediately transferred to the regular detention facility as with all other accused in non-bailable cases,” he said.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the Philippine National Police General Hospital is ready to receive Romualdez should the Sandiganbayan approve his transfer.

“The PNP General Hospital is fully prepared to accommodate former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if the Sandiganbayan grants the transfer,” Nartatez said.

He said the PNP would provide medical care while ensuring proper custody, in line with directives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

Remulla earlier said the Department of the Interior and Local Government would ask the Sandiganbayan Third Division to order Romualdez’s transfer to the PNPGH in Camp Crame, where his private doctors would be allowed to treat him.

Nartatez said the PNP would enforce the arrest warrant without special treatment, regardless of Romualdez’s position.

The PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group returned the warrant to the Sandiganbayan Tuesday after serving it on Romualdez at the hospital. It also submitted his medical certificate, spot report, mugshot, booking form and certificate of detention to the court.