Romualdez, 3 jailbirds share infirmary cell

Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is sharing an infirmary cell with three other inmates with health problems at the Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday.

Remulla clarified that the inmates were not Senators Jinggoy Estrada, who has a knee problem, or Rodante Marcoleta, who also recently suffered from an ailment.

“Not Estrada or Marcoleta, but three regular inmates are staying with him in the infirmary where he has been billeted,” Remulla told reporters during a briefing at Camp Crame.

He said the infirmary is not air-conditioned but has exhaust fans to circulate the air.

Doctors at the Philippine General Hospital had determined that Romualdez was fit to be detained at the Payatas facility under medical supervision, Remulla said.

“That was the recommendation of the PGH doctors. They said he is fit to be confined but has to be under medical supervision,” he noted.

Romualdez is required to undergo an electrocardiogram once a week. Doctors also recommended a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, but Remulla said the former speaker has so far declined to use one.

A hospital bed was also provided in case of an emergency, based on the recommendations of the Sandiganbayan and the PGH.

Monitoring to continue

Remulla said Romualdez remained under medical supervision because of his high blood pressure, diabetes, and history of possible cerebrovascular incidents that require monitoring.

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology confirmed that Romualdez was committed to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory at 10:49 p.m. on Tuesday, 14 September, following an order by the Sandiganbayan Third Division.

Remulla said BJMP doctors will monitor Romualdez and coordinate with his personal doctors and PGH if concerns arise. His doctors may visit between 1 and 5 p.m., except Mondays, but he does not have a permanent private nurse or personal security detail inside the facility.

Romualdez’s cell measures some 50 square meters and has a common bathroom shared with the three other detainees, Remulla said.

The former speaker was advised to exercise for 30 minutes daily, including time spent outdoors to get some sun.

Remulla said Romualdez may also eat at the mess hall where the senators eat if he wished.

Romualdez is facing plunder charges over alleged P7.2 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects. The Sandiganbayan has set pretrial proceedings for Wednesday, 16 September.