Ombudsman Opposes Romualdez's Bid for Extended Hospital Arrest

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday said it will oppose the motion of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez for extended hospital confinement after his arrest, adding that it will request a team of government doctors to assess whether his declared illnesses could be managed outside the hospital. This was the response of Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano after Romualdez on Monday filed a Manifestation of Hospital Confinement and Urgent Motion ad Cautelam for Continued Hospital Confinement for continuous lawful custody at the hospital “for so long as inpatient confinement remains medically necessary, certified by his attending physical, until he is medically cleared for transfer.” “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 in a statement. Clavano also said that if Romualdez’s illnesses could be managed outside the hospital, the prosecutors would move for his transfer to a regular detention facility, including the other co-accused in the charges. The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant against Romualdez, former lawmaker Zaldy Co, and two others last Monday for plunder over allegations that they received more than P7 billion in kickbacks from government projects between 2022 and 2025. Romualdez was arrested in the hospital and he is currently confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday said that according to the former House Speaker’s doctors, he suffered from a cardiovascular event, and was having an anxiety attack and unstable blood pressure. /jpv