Romualdez’s heart attack risk ‘not very high,’ PGH doctor tells court

MANILA, Philippines — The risk of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez getting a heart attack “is not very high,” a Philippine General Hospital (PGH) official told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday.

PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi said this was based on the independent assessment of their specialists, which they submitted to the court on Sunday.

READ: Romualdez can be discharged from PGH, says hospital director

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Last Friday, the anti-graft court ordered PGH to conduct the assessment to verify the findings of Romualdez’s doctors at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

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One of the tests done on Romualdez was a cardiac stress test, which showed normal results, according to Legaspi.

Based on the tests, Legaspi said PGH experts concluded that Romualdez’s risk of a heart attack is 30 percent over the next 10 years.

“The danger is three percent per year, it is not very high,” Legaspi told the court.

He also said the lawmaker’s hypertension is already controlled at 130/80.

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Regarding Romualdez’s heart condition, Legaspi said “continued inpatient hospital confinement is not medically required” as long as he regularly monitors his blood pressure and takes his maintenance medications.

Romualdez’s diabetes is also controlled. Legaspi recommended addressing his sleep apnea to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence.

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To address his sleep apnea, the doctor said the lawmaker should use a continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP machine, which can be used “in non-hospital setting.”

Romualdez suffering from depression

PGH specialists also confirmed that Romualdez is suffering from anxiety and depression, which Legaspi said should be treated with medication.

They also found “no evidence of suicidal intent to warrant isolation and heightened security intervention.”

With all of his medical conditions being taken into account, Legaspi said “the patient’s current condition is clinically stable.”

After Legaspi’s testimony, Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chairperson, immediately announced the court order to transfer Romualdez’s custody to the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas.

READ: Sandiganbayan orders Romualdez’s transfer to QC jail in Payatas

Romualdez has been confined at PGH since Saturday after being discharged from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where the arrest warrant against him was issued on Monday.

An arrest warrant was issued by this court against Romualdez, former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, and two others for plunder involving alleged kickbacks worth P7.44 billion.

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Ade Fajardo, Romualdez’s legal counsel, said Monday that the lawmaker respects the court and will follow its rules. /mcm