Sandiganbayan orders Romualdez transfer to PGH

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division on Friday ordered Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez transferred to the Philippine General Hospital from Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where he had been confined since Monday following his arrest on plunder charges.

As this developed, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla dared the former House Speaker to “man up” and “face the music” instead of pleading for extended hospital stay.

A physician at Cardinal Santos earlier testified before the antigraft court, saying it would be a “big risk” for the lawmaker to be transferred to another hospital.

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READ: Romualdez to stay in PGH indefinitely starting Sept. 12

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Dr. Rosalio Torres, the hospital’s overall coordinator, gave the assessment when asked at the witness stand by Romualdez’s counsel Jose Roy III regarding the lawmaker’s motion for his continued confinement at Cardinal Santos.

Torres said Romualdez had no invasive and emergency surgery scheduled since his confinement, and that he could only undergo intensive monitoring.

Also appearing in court, Romualdez’s cardiologist, Dr. Rody Sy, said his patient would need “around four to six weeks” before he could be transferred to another hospital.

In ordering the PGH transfer, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda, who chairs the Third Division, said: “The court deems it proper to direct an independent examination of accused Romualdez at PGH to verify the medical examination conducted by (his) doctors in Cardinal.”

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Miranda said this is to determine if it is still necessary to keep Romualdez confined at a medical facility.

‘More dignity’

In a motion filed on Monday, when he was admitted to Cardinal Santos, Romualdez said he was suffering from Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, primary hypothyroidism and other illnesses.

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The court ordered the arrest of Romualdez, fugitive and resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co and two others, after the Office of the Ombudsman had them charged with plunder for allegedly receiving kickbacks of around P7.44 billion from flood control projects.

In a press conference following the anti-graft court’s latest order, Remulla said he found it “very sad that the former speaker is resorting to this (transfer to another private hospital).”

“I know him very well. He should take it with more dignity,” said the Ombudsman, who also was once a House colleague of Romualdez.

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“I am not happy about it,” Remulla said. “Face the music, face the charges like a real man should. Man up to it.” /das