Following orders from the anti-graft court.
Shortly before 10:50 pm on Monday, September 14, the police convoy escorting former House Speaker Martin Romualdez arrived at the Payatas City Jail in Quezon City.
The lawmaker, who is facing plunder charges over his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal and supposedly receiving kickbacks amounting to PHP7.44 billion from it, as well as other projects, was ordered by the Sandiganbayan to be brought to the Male Dormitory of the said facility.
Inside, some other high-profile inmates are also being held, such as senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta, who are both facing other cases before the anti-graft court.
This also ends days of limbo as to where Romualdez will be brought, exactly a week after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued an arrest warrant against the Leyte first district representative.
While he was technically arrested by authorities and were brought under their custody, he was not immediately brought to the city jail due to his medical condition.
Last weekend, he underwent evaluation at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) in Manila, with the doctors having submitted their findings to the Sandiganbayan.
Although, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, director of the UP-PGH, said in his testimony to the Sandiganbayan court that while the Romualdez has legitimate health conditions, these do not require him to be confined in a hospital. But, these illnesses will need to be managed and monitored inside the facility.
“Bawat isa sa mga ekspertong ito, sinabi na merong problema na tuluy-tuloy, pero hindi siya mangangailangang gamutin sa ospital. Pero hindi inaalis mayroong mga medikal na kondisyon na kailangang gamutin pa rin,” the director said.
Meanwhile, for his part, Romualdez said on the court’s decision to bring him to the city jail: “I respect the decision of the Sandiganbayan,” adding his messgae of thanks to the physicians whi attended to him at Cardinal Santos Medical Center and UP-PGH.
The lawmaker also said that he maintains his “innocence from the accusations” thrown at him.
