PERSONNEL from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Philippine National Police cordon off Cardinal Santos Medical Center, before transferring former Speaker Martin Romualdez to the Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical examination.
Photograph by Zedrich Xylak Madrid for the DAILY TRIBUNE
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The medical examination of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will be “objective and professional,” the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the flagship state medical institution, vowed.
Romualdez, who is facing a plunder charge, was transferred at 8:45 a.m. yesterday from the private Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City where he was confined for several days.
The PGH said in a statement that it will conduct the medical examination in accordance with the highest standards of the medical practice.
“To protect the confidentiality of the patient’s medical information, no details regarding his condition or test results will be released, except those that will be submitted to the court,” the statement added.
Romualdez was transferred pursuant to an order by the Sandiganbayan. Doctors from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) accompanied him.
The PGH said it has assembled a team of medical specialists to conduct the examinations and diagnosis. They will prepare a comprehensive medical report for submission to the Sandiganbayan on Sunday afternoon which will serve as the basis for determining if Romualdez needs to remain hospitalized.
Convoy started at 7 a.m.
Earlier, at about 7 a.m., transport vehicles and an ambulance from the BJMP arrived at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Past 8 a.m., BJMP personnel were seen stationed outside the hospital’s outpatient care center where Romualdez was expected to exit. Minutes later, the officers suddenly dispersed and boarded their vehicles.
Two ambulances then followed, with the former speaker reportedly in the last vehicle.
Members of the media attempted to get a glimpse of Romualdez, but the ambulance curtains were drawn closed.
Romualdez is facing a P7.4-billion plunder charge in relation to the flood control scam, filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday. He was served a warrant of arrest at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Monday night.
His confinement was allegedly due to “a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack,” as relayed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
