Remulla vs Romualdez: Jail or Hospital Arrest? | Michael Say, Morgan Say and Solomon Say

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has dared former House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez to “man up” and “face the music” over his continued bid to extend his hospital confinement. Remulla said this on Friday, soon after the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Romualdez’s transfer from Cardinal Santos Medical Center to the Philippine General Hospital. “It’s very sad that the former Speaker is resorting to this,” Remulla said in a press conference. “I know him very well; he should take it with more dignity.” Remulla said, “I am not happy about it,” but he said the Office of the Ombudsman should apply the law. “Face the music, face the charges like a real man should, man up to it,” he said. On Monday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder cases against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and two others involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion. The Sandiganbayan Third Division then issued an arrest warrant for Romualdez that day, which was served at Cardinal Santos, where the Leyte representative was confined./coa MANILA, Philippines — Starting Saturday, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will be confined at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) indefinitely. Associate Justice Karl Miranda, chair of the Sandiganbayan Third Division, announced on Friday the court’s order issuing the arrest warrant against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and two others for plunder involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion. Article continues after this advertisement Romualdez, who has been confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center since Monday, will be discharged for his medical examination at PGH, where he will be brought by ambulance equipped with the required medical equipment. “The court deems it proper to direct an independent examination of accused Romualdez at PGH to verify the medical examination conducted by accused Romualdez’s doctors in Cardinal,” Miranda said in the order he read during open court. This, Miranda said, is made to determine if it is still necessary to confine Romualdez at a medical facility. The court ordered PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi “to allow accused Romualdez to stay in UP-PGH and attend to him thereat until further orders from the court.” Legaspi was also ordered to “conduct a medical examination on accused Romualdez on the said date, without the direct or indirect participation or influence of accused Romualdez’s doctors at Cardinal who may be connected to UP-PGH.” The Third Division will hold a hearing on Monday, where Legaspi will testify and reveal his findings “on whether there is an imperative need for the continued hospital confinement of the accused.” Dennis Pulma, Third Division clerk of court, clarified that “upon discharge tomorrow, the physical location of Romualdez will be at the UP-PGH.” Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said they respect the move of the court. “We understand also that the court is also observing its rules in the name of fairness and justice,” he said in an ambush interview after the hearing. Romualdez was admitted to Cardinal Santos Medical Center on Monday due to chest pain, the same day when his arrest warrant for plunder came out. The Leyte representative then filed a motion for continued hospital arrest, saying he is suffering from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism and other illnesses. Fajardo took exception to “allusions” that Romualdez’s illnesses were “fake,” saying there was a “grave cause for concern” about his health. “We are seriously worried about his health and how these cases affect his general well-being,” Fajardo said. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2303597...