EXPLAINER: What happens to Romualdez once detained at Payatas

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said it is prepared to transfer former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, where his fellow lawmakers are committed also due to nonbailable plunder cases.

High-profile detainees currently at the Payatas facility include Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is facing a P573-million case involving alleged kickbacks from flood-control projects; and Senator Rodante Marcoleta and his co-accused, former congressman Mike Defensor, for failing to declare P75 million in campaign donations.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday directed the BJMP to transfer the custody of Romualdez to the jail facility from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH).

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The order was made after the testimony of PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, who told the court that the 62-year-old Romualdez can be discharged at any time since he was medically stable, based on the examination done by a team of specialists of the premier state-run hospital.

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Romualdez could be detained to the Payatas jail facility by “12 midnight,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

READ: Romualdez expected to arrive in Payatas jail at ‘12 midnight’ — Remulla

Upon his commitment to the New Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory, Romualdez would undergo further assessment before authorities could determine the appropriate cell for him, according to BJMP spokesperson Jail Supt. Rex Bustinera.

Similar to other detainees of the BJMP, Romualdez shall wear the standard yellow BJMP detainee shirt and brown pants.

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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.

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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 of 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 48 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.

But unlike his private room in hospitals, the cells do not have air-conditioning units, and instead are equipped with electric fans for air circulation.

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.

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

Bustinera maintained that Romualdez would not receive special treatment and he would be subject to the same rules as other PDLs in the New Quezon City Jail.

Similar to other detainees, Romualdez would be allocated three meals worth P100 each day during his jail time.

“Regardless of whether they want it or not, they have to accept the meals because the food is already budgeted,” Bustinera said.

However, PDLs are allowed to receive food prepared outside the jail from visitors during visiting hours, a privilege available to all inmates whose cases remain pending.

Bustinera said outside food must be consumed within the day because the jail has no refrigerators for storing food.

PDLs may also receive pre-packed food, including snacks, but these would be subject to inspection to prove that they were not classified as dangerous contraband.

According to Bustinera, network signals are currently accessible inside the jail, but authorities are preparing to install signal jammers to block unauthorized cellphone use.

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He said the technology could be installed “as early as next week or in the coming weeks.” /cb