Ex-Speaker Romualdez detained in non-aircon infirmary ward

Former Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez is detained in a non-airconditioned infirmary ward with three other cellmates at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday. In a press conference on Tuesday, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Romualdez is being accorded treatment as mandated by the court. Remulla said that as standard protocol, authorities are not allowed to share photos of persons deprived of liberty once they are behind bars. The Interior and Local Government chief described Romualdez's detainment facilities: "I think it's 50 square meters. Mayroon lang, from what I saw yesterday, hospital beds, wala siyang aircon, common bathroom." (I think it's 50 square meters. From what I saw yesterday, it only has hospital beds, a common bathroom, no aircon.) The ward only has bigger exhaust fans than what was standard. Instead of regular beds, the infirmary had hospital beds. BJMP spokesperson Jail Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera also described how Romualdez was transferred to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory on Monday night. "After these booking procedures, siya po ay dinala sa kanyang assigned cell. Ito po ay infirmary ward. May kasama po siya doon. Pang-apat po siya. Bale, apat sila doon ngayon," (After these booking procedures, he was brought to his assigned cell. This is an infirmary ward. There are others there as well. He is the fourth one. Now there are four of them there.) Bustinera said Romualdez's cell placement is based on the evaluation of his doctors. Last Friday, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered doctors from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to independently verify whether or not Romualdez needed hospital confinement. After they assessed that Romualdez was fit enough to be confined, the former speaker was taken to the Quezon City jail. Asked if Romualdez was being dramatic about his health conditions, Remulla also said he did not believe so, as doctors from the PGH were able to identify some illnesses that mandated medical supervision. "Well, ang sinusunod namin ay ang recommendations sa Sandinganbayan at ng PGH, which we had nothing to do with. So kung akala niyong over and above 'yung treatment na binigay sa kaniya, tingnan niyo 'yung commitment orders at recommendations ng PGH. Ayun lang ang sinusunod namin. Nothing more and nothing less," (Well, we are following the recommendations of the Sandiganbayan and the PGH, which we had nothing to do with. So if you think that the treatment is over and above, look at the commitment orders and recommendations of the PGH. That is what we are following. Nothing more and nothing less.) Last Friday, Vice President Sara Duterte slammed Romualdez's arrest as "drama," as she called out Remulla for seeking the same for her potential arrest on grave threats charges. Romualdez, however, pushed back earlier saying he was just doing his job and that it was better for the vice president to focus her energies on "real world problems."