Sandiganbayan summons BJMP execs over claims Romualdez left jail

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday summoned Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) officials following claims that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is leaving his jail cell.

The Third Division is handling Romualdez’s plunder case stemming from alleged kickbacks from infrastructure projects worth P7.44 billion. 

According to Third Division clerk of court Dennis Pulma, the court ordered Jail Superintendent Maria Lourdes Pacion and medical officer Henry Fabro, both from the BJMP City Jail-Male Dormitory, to appear for a hearing on Thursday.

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READ: BJMP no power outage or Romualdez exit from jail

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Pulma said the court summoned both of them to check the current status of Romualdez at BJMP Payatas “in light of the recent online news articles.”

Veteran journalist Mon Tulfo, citing his source, alleged that a jail warden had cut off the power supply, disabling CCTV cameras and allowing Romualdez to leave the jail undetected.

Earlier, the BJMP said it “takes these allegations seriously,” prompting its chief Efren Nemeño to order an immediate investigation. 

However, BJMP spokesperson Capt. Jayrex Bustinera said initial CCTV verification by its national headquarters showed no recorded power or CCTV interruption at the Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory, and no recorded movement of Romualdez outside the facility was seen during the period.

“The investigation is ongoing,” Bustinera said in a statement. “The BJMP reiterates that all PDL are subject to the same custodial rules and that any movement outside the jail requires a proper court order.” /mr