Marcos’ personal feelings ‘not important’ in Romualdez arrest — Castro

MANILA, Philippines — The personal feelings of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “are not important” in the arrest of his cousin, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, according to Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro.

At a briefing on Wednesday, Castro was asked what Marcos felt after Romualdez, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was arrested on Monday over allegations that he and former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co received more than P7 billion in kickbacks from government projects between 2022 and 2025.

READ: Romualdez camp free to comment; admin adhering to due process – Palace

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“Ang pakiramdam po ng Pangulo, personal ay hindi naman po siguro ito dapat na alamin natin. Ang kailangan lang po dito ay dapat mapanagot, ang dapat na mapanagot,” Castro said.

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(As for the President’s personal feelings, that is likely not something we need to know. What matters here is simply that those who ought to be held accountable are indeed held accountable.)

“Hindi na po siguro makakaapekto kung ano man ang damdamin ng Pangulo, masaya, malungkot ano man, hindi na po siya importante,” she continued.

(Whatever the President is feeling—whether happy, sad, or anything else—likely won’t matter anymore; it is no longer important.)

The important thing is that the justice system is working and that it is in the hands of the court to hold the person accountable, she said.

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Meanwhile, Castro shut down comments that Marcos allegedly ratted out Romualdez amid investigation in the flood control scam, which eventually led to his arrest.

“Hindi ko gusto iyong word na “nilaglag.” So, kung may mga kritikong nagsasabing “nilaglag,” hindi namin nais gamitin ang word na nilaglag,” she said.

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(I don’t like the word “dropped.” So, if there are critics saying we “dropped” it, we do not wish to use that word.)

“Dahil ito naman po according to the Office of the Ombudsman mayroon silang nakitang ebidensiya. So, walang dapat nilalaglag dito, kung ano lang iyong ebidensiya na nandidiyan, iyon lang—doon lang tayo bumase, dahil ang Pangulo po sa mga bagay na ganyan ay neutral, proseso, batas at walang dapat na gawa-gawang ebidensiya,” the Palace official continued.

(According to the Office of the Ombudsman, they have found evidence. So, there is no intention to single anyone out; we must simply base our actions on the available evidence. The President remains neutral on such matters, adhering to due process and the law, and there is no place for fabricated evidence.)

Romualdez is currently confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City under the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group due to Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism, and other illnesses.

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His camp filed a motion to extend his hospital confinement, but the Office of the Ombudsman said it will oppose the motion and will request a team of government doctors to assess whether his declared illnesses could be managed outside the hospital. /mr