PGH submits Romualdez impartial medical report to Sandiganbayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) submitted to the Sandiganbayan on Sunday a medical examination report on former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is facing a nonbailable plunder charge.

The report will recommend whether Romualdez should remain confined at the hospital or be committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas City with other detainees.

PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario did not face the media to elaborate on the content of the independent examination conducted by its team of specialists.

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PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi or an authorized representative is expected to testify on Monday regarding the findings and whether there is an “imperative need” to extend Romualdez’s hospital stay.

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Meanwhile, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said it is prepared to comply with whatever disposition the Sandiganbayan issues regarding Romualdez.

“If we are ordered to transfer him to the Quezon City Jail because he is already fit for transfer, we will transfer him immediately,” BJMP spokesperson Jail Supt. Rex Bustinera said in an interview on dzBB on Sunday.

Should Romualdez remain at PGH, the BJMP would maintain security around him and the area outside the hospital.

According to Bustinera, the BJMP has not monitored any threats involving Romualdez, noting that the security situation surrounding him remained “normal,” with no incident reports recorded since the Leyte district representative was placed under its custody on Thursday.

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BJMP personnel are stationed both inside and outside Romualdez’s private room at the PGH, as well as around the hospital perimeter, without giving a definite number.

Bustinera said the higher-than-usual number of BJMP and police personnel deployed was intended to prevent a possible escape by detainees, citing past cases.

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Dr. Ronnie Baticulon, a pediatric neurosurgeon and associate professor at the UP College of Medicine, bared that Romualdez was admitted to one of the rooms on PGH’s seventh floor, where the “most beautiful private rooms” are located.

READ: PGH vows ‘objective,’ ‘professional’ examination of ex-Speaker

The 62-year-old Romualdez was brought to PGH in Manila from the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Saturday to assess whether he needs medical confinement after an arrest warrant was issued against him.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a P7.4-billion plunder case against him and three others over their alleged involvement in a kickback scheme involving flood control projects.

According to his motion for continued hospital stay, Romualdez was suffering from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism, and other illnesses.

Marcos to visit PGH on Sept. 14

Since his transfer to PGH on Saturday, only doctors and lawyers of Romualdez have visited him, according to Bustinera. No family members or friends have come to see him.

His cousin, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., also has not yet paid him a visit, according to Malacañang.

Marcos, however, is scheduled to visit PGH on Monday morning for still-undisclosed reasons. It is not yet clear if he would visit Romualdez.

Should he be transferred to the New Quezon City Jail, Romualdez would undergo further assessment before authorities determine the appropriate cell for him.

READ: Romualdez under BJMP, but transfer on hold

Bustinera said the general rule for persons deprived of liberty (PDL) is to be housed with other detainees rather than in single-occupancy cells.

“And especially for a PDL who is sick, he cannot be left alone because something could happen inside the cell and there would be no one to alert the duty personnel,” he added.

The New Quezon City Jail currently has more than 3,200 PDLs, against a capacity of around 4,200 to 4,300 without overcrowding.

Romualdez may be placed in any of the 27 vacant cells among the 900 cells in the newly renovated building of the facility, or any of the unoccupied cells in the infirmary.

Each cell has an area of 50 square meters, which is double the size of a standard studio-type apartment. It has five double-decker beds that can accommodate up to 10 PDLs.

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Bustinera said the jail is equipped to properly take care of Romualdez, as it also has an in-house doctor, nurses on 24-hour duty and basic medical facilities, including X-ray and laboratory services. /mcm