Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is now staying inside the infirmary of the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas with three other persons deprived of liberty (PDLs), Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday.
The disclosure comes just a day after the Sandiganbayan ordered Romualdez transferred from hospital confinement to the Quezon City jail after government doctors determined that he was clinically stable and did not require continued confinement in an acute-care hospital.
According to Remulla, Romualdez is not sharing the infirmary with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are also detained at the Payatas facility.
Instead, the former House Speaker is sharing the infirmary space with three regular inmates who also require medical monitoring.
No air conditioning inside the infirmary
Remulla said the infirmary is not air-conditioned. Instead, the room uses exhaust fans for ventilation.
The infirmary reportedly measures around 50 square meters and has a common bathroom shared by Romualdez and the three other inmates.
The setup is consistent with the government’s earlier position that Romualdez would not receive special treatment simply because of his political status.
BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera previously said Romualdez would be treated like other PDLs and would not be placed in a solo cell.
Before his transfer, BJMP had said the regular detention cells at the facility measure roughly 47 to 50 square meters, with five double-decker beds, bathrooms and ceiling fans, and can accommodate up to 10 detainees.
Romualdez remains under medical supervision
Although doctors found that Romualdez no longer needed hospital confinement, he will continue to receive medical monitoring while inside the jail.
Remulla said Romualdez has been advised to undergo an electrocardiogram once a week, while doctors also recommended the use of a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. According to Remulla, Romualdez has so far declined to use the machine.
A hospital bed is also available in the infirmary in case an emergency occurs.
BJMP doctors will monitor him, while his personal physicians may visit during designated visiting hours, according to the DILG chief. Remulla also said Romualdez does not have a permanent private nurse or private security guard inside the infirmary.
Transfer follows independent medical assessment
Romualdez was initially detained at Cardinal Santos Medical Center after the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant in connection with the P7.44-billion plunder case involving alleged kickbacks tied to flood-control and other government projects.
He was subsequently brought to the Philippine General Hospital for an independent medical assessment after questions arose over whether he still needed hospital confinement.
PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi testified before the Sandiganbayan that Romualdez was clinically stable and that there was no imperative medical need for continued hospital confinement. The medical assessment also found his risk of an impending heart attack to be low.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division then ordered his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas as a detention prisoner.
The development also followed earlier assurances from BJMP that Romualdez would not receive VIP treatment. The agency had prepared for his detention while his legal and medical motions were being resolved.
Arraignment scheduled Wednesday
Romualdez is expected to face another major legal step on September 16, when the Sandiganbayan is scheduled to conduct his arraignment and pre-trial proceedings in the plunder case.
He has maintained his innocence and said he will face the allegations before the proper court.
The case has attracted intense public attention because it involves alleged corruption in flood-control and infrastructure projects and includes other prominent figures.
For now, the former House Speaker remains in the Payatas jail infirmary, where authorities say his medical condition will continue to be monitored while he awaits the next stage of the court proceedings.
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