The personal staff of former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez only stays inside the New Quezon City jail during visiting hours, Jail Warden Lourdes Pacion clarified on Monday, November 9.
Pacion made the clarification during a Sandiganbayan 3rd Division hearing regarding Romualdez’s detention status. The hearing followed allegations by veteran columnist Ramon Tulfo claiming the former speaker could leave the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility at will via ambulance—an allegation Tulfo has since retracted.
Romualdez is currently detained facing a ₱7.4-billion plunder charge over an alleged flood control projects kickback scheme.
“Actually, the person allowed, he is a visitor. He is included in the visitor’s list,” Pacion said.
The statement corrects Pacion’s earlier account, in which she claimed she allowed Romualdez’s staff member, Arvin de Guzman, to stay inside the cell 24/7 due to the former speaker’s unstable mental health. When asked by court justices if De Guzman was allowed inside the cell from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacion confirmed he was.
“After visiting hours [of 8 am to 5 pm], he is on call 24/7,” Pacion added.
Pacion apologized to the anti-graft court for her previous conflicting statements.
“Sorry ‘your honor, siguro nataranta lang po ako your honor, pasensiya na po,” Pacion said.
Romualdez’s legal counsel, Atty. Judd Roy, confirmed that the defense team requested BJMP permission for De Guzman—a longtime staff member familiar with Romualdez’s medical history—to assist the former leader with his daily medications and health needs.