Ombudsman tells Romualdez: Face charges with dignity, 'man up'

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla on Friday did not mince his words to Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, telling him to man up and face his charges with dignity following his petition for hospital arrest. "It’s sad that they want different rules to apply to him. Huwag sana gan'un kasi we stand by the rule of law in the country (I hope it wouldn't be like that because we stand by the rule of law in the country)," Remulla said in a press briefing on Friday. "Face the music, face the charges like a real man should. Man up to it. You should have a lot of pride and dignity in your person. Hindi 'yung ganyan na para kang nag-flake (Not like that, it is like you’re flaking)," he added. The former speaker was admitted in the Cardinal Santos Medical Center shortly before the arrest warrant was issued against him. The arrest warrant stemmed from the alleged P7.4 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects. His mugshot, taken from a hospital bed, has gone viral, with many questioning the timing of his illness, including Remulla. "If you look at the people who are confined or who are already in jail in Bilibid or in the BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), most of them are worse off than him," Remulla said. The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the Philippine General Hospital to assess Romualdez's medical condition to see if he truly needs to stay in the hospital. "It's very sad that… the former speaker is resorting to this. I know him very well, I know him very well, but he should take it with more dignity. It should not be like this. He should have more dignity with all of this," the Ombudsman said. Remulla said he was not particularly happy that Romualdez is under the custody of the BJMP, but he is also not happy that the lawmaker is in a hospital. He said the law has to apply equally to the rich and poor. —AOL/ VDV, GMA News