Remulla: Romualdez arrest painful, but duty comes first

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday admitted that the arrest of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was difficult for him personally, as they are friends, but said he would continue to perform his duties without taking sides. Remulla made the statement after authorities served an arrest warrant on Romualdez in connection with the ₱7.4-billion plunder case involving alleged anomalies in flood control projects. “Mabigat man sa loob ko dahil kaibigan ko talaga 'yan, pero...ipinapakita lang namin na wala kaming pinapanigan," Remulla said after serving the warrant of arrest. (It weighs heavily on me because he is really my friend, but... we are just showing that we are not taking sides.) He also assured the public that authorities would carry out their mandate and ensure that Romualdez faces the judicial process. "Huwag po kayong mag-alala, gagawin po namin ang lahat na madala siya sa hustiya," he added. (Don't worry, we will do everything to bring him to justice.) Police have secured Romualdez at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan, where he was taken on Monday afternoon after suffering "a cardiovascular event, unstable blood pressure, and an anxiety attack," according to Remulla. Remulla went to the hospital early Monday night with PNP chief Police General Jose Melecio Nartatez to serve a warrant of arrest that the Sandiganbayan issued after the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against the Leyte congressman, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and two others. A "24 Oras" report said Romualdez was read the warrant and his rights in the presence of his lawyer. On Monday night, Romualdez sought the approval of the Sandiganbayan Third Division to grant him "continued hospital confinement" as he faces his plunder case. A lawyer for Romualdez said he would face all allegations against him in connection with his alleged links to the kickback scheme involving the flood control mess. “We respect the courts and the legal process. Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will face the allegations against him in accordance with law,” Atty. Ade Fajardo, counsel of Romualdez, said in a statement. “We recognize the public interest surrounding this case. But ultimately, criminal liability must be determined by the evidence presented in court, under the rules and safeguards of our justice system,” he added.—LDF, GMA News