MANILA, Philippines — New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory Warden Jail Supt. Maria Lourdes Pacion defended the decision to allow a personal staff member inside the detention facility to assist former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez during a Sandiganbayan hearing on Thursday, November 5.
Addressing the anti-graft court’s 3rd Division, Pacion explained that the arrangement was authorized to help Romualdez with his daily needs, citing staff limitations and health assessments.
“Because, as of my assessment, his mental state is not yet that stable,” Pacion stated.
Pacion noted that the staff member has been staying at the facility since Romualdez was committed on September 14.
She explained that jail personnel lack the capacity to provide round-the-clock personal assistance, making the accommodation necessary on a case-by-case basis.
“We allow that if the patient is not in good condition because we cannot attend [to] all the personal needs of the patient,” she said, adding, “It’s a case-to-case basis and it’s a prerogative of the warden to assess what’s needed for a certain PDL (person deprived of liberty).”
While no other current detainees share this specific arrangement, Pacion recalled a past instance where a relative was permitted to care for an inmate staying in the jail infirmary for two months.
During the proceedings, Pacion categorically dismissed allegations that Romualdez had unauthorized movements in and out of the facility.
“I categorically deny the information, Your Honor,” she told the court.
She clarified that Romualdez remains inside the detention compound, attends online court hearings, and only leaves his room for scheduled sunning, denying claims that he used an ambulance, other vehicles, or walked outside.
Jail medical officer Henry Fabro was also summoned to testify during the hearing.
Meanwhile, columnist Ramon Tulfo retracted previous claims regarding Romualdez’s alleged outings via social media, admitting he acted on misinformation.
“I was fed the wrong report that former speaker Martin Romualdez could go in and out of jail,” Tulfo said.
Romualdez is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail facing a ₱7.44-billion plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman.