PGH vows 'objective, professional' medical review of Romualdez's health

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Saturday vowed to provide an impartial review of former speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez's health following his transfer to the medical facility. Romualdez was transferred to PGH in Manila City from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan after the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered an independent review of his health. The PGH's doctors are tasked with verifying his claims that he needs to stay in the hospital for urgent healthcare. "Mananatiling obhetibo at propesyonal ang PGH sa pagsasagawa ng pagsusuri, alinsunod sa pinakamataas na pamantayan sa larangan ng medisina," the PGH said in a statement. (The PGH will remain professional in the review, in accordance with the highest standards of the medicinal field.) The PGH, the country's premier government hospital, said it has assembled a panel of specialists who will make their own medical examinations and diagnostic tests. These specialists will prepare a comprehensive medical report which will be submitted to the Sandiganbayan. This report will become the basis of whether or not Romualdez will remain in the hospital or not. Romualdez was received at the PGH at 8:45 a.m., accompanied by officials from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. Romualdez's doctors at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center had cited several health conditions to justify his hospital stay, including high blood pressure. The former speaker also showed signs of depression and anxiety, according to his psychologist. He is facing P7.4-billion plunder case before the Sandiganbayan over his alleged links to the flood control mess. The PGH clarified that it would not release details of Romualdez's health, unless otherwise ordered by the court. "Upang mapangalagaan ang pagiging kumpidensiyal ng impormasyong medikal ng pasyente, walang detalye tungkol sa kanyang kondisyon o mga resulta ang ilalabas, maliban sa ihaharap sa Hukuman," it said. (To protect the confidentiality of the patient's medical information, no details about his condition or results will be divulged except for the court.) Dr. Rody Sy, the former speaker's cardiologist, said Romualdez would need four to six weeks to recover from his ailments due to stress. Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, however, rebuffed the length of the recovery plan. — VDV, GMA News