Court inspects Payatas jail after tackling Romualdez detention issues

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday inspected the New Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), where former House Speaker Martin Romualdez is detained.

Romualdez was jailed in connection with a plunder case stemming from an alleged P7.44 billion kickback in infrastructure projects.

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Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda and Associate Justice Fritz Bryn Anthony Delos Santos led the inspection.

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Also with them were Deputy Special Prosecutor Omar Sagadal and Romualdez’s lawyer Judd Roy. 

“The purpose of this inspection is to verify compliance with the Court’s commitment order and determine whether established procedures are being faithfully observed,” the Third Division said in a statement. 

The ocular inspection, the court said, “should not be interpreted as a finding that any irregularity has occurred.”

“The Court has reached no conclusion concerning the allegations or the conduct of any person,” it added.

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A post by columnist Ramon Tulfo that Romualdez allegedly could go in and out of jail prompted the court to conduct a hearing to check on the lawmaker’s condition in jail.

Tulfo, who has since retracted his post, reported that Romualdez was riding in an ambulance and that the brownouts were happening so he would not be seen leaving and returning to his cell. 

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The columnist said that “no such thing happened when the facts started coming in yesterday.”

During its hearings, however, the court learned that Romualdez has an aide who is on call 24 hours a day to attend to his medical needs. 

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Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has said that he will also conduct a “surprise” visit at the BJMP after learning that Romualdez has a staffer inside the facility. /gsg