MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has dismissed allegations that former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez was able to leave and re-enter his detention facility with the assistance of prison personnel.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro addressed the claims during a Palace briefing on Wednesday, November 4.
Citing an official report from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Castro stated that reviews of facility records and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage revealed no power interruptions and no unauthorized exits at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory during the examined timeframe.
The Palace emphasized that detention protocols apply uniformly to all individuals regardless of their political background or previous government status.
“Minabuti po talaga nating malaman ang katotohanan dito dahil hindi puwedeng ang isang tao o grupo ng tao ay mas lalamang sa ordinaryong tao. Pantay-pantay po dapat ang pagtrato kahit anuman ang position mo, kahit anuman ang relasyon mo, kahit anuman ang kulay mo,” Castro said.
According to BJMP logs and surveillance reviews, Romualdez’s last recorded movement out of the facility was on October 12, when he left to attend a scheduled court hearing.
Castro also questioned the intentions behind the circulated rumors, suggesting that the claims may be aimed at discrediting oversight agencies.
“[S]a mga maaaring nagpapakalat ng maling impormasyon, ano po ba ang inyong nais, anong motibo? Ang motibo dito ay sirain ang gobyerno, sirain ang mga ahensiya na tumutupad sa kanilang tungkulin,” she noted.
“So huwag po nating palabasin na ganoon dahil alam natin na si Speaker Romualdez ay isa sa malaking—sinasabing isa sa big fish na tinututukan para malaman natin ang katotohanan,” she added.
Romualdez has been held at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas since September 14, following an order from the Sandiganbayan Third Division. His transfer came after an independent medical evaluation by the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital concluded that he was clinically stable and no longer required treatment in an acute care hospital.
The Sandiganbayan had earlier issued an arrest warrant against him on September 7 in connection with a non-bailable plunder case.