Jonvic Remulla denies claims Martin Romualdez sneaking out of QC jail

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday denied allegations that Leyte Representative and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez had been sneaking out of Quezon City Jail.

“It is not true, and I categorically deny,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

He said the DILG obtained CCTV footage and he invited the press to check the videos with him at the jail facility.

“We have all CCTV footage na proof na hindi siya nakakalabas (to prove that he did not leave the jail facility). However, we cannot disclose it in public,” he said.

Remulla denied that Romualdez was receiving special treatment.

“He's in medical ano 'di ba? Naka-confinement pa rin siya. Sila ni [Senator Rodante Marcoleta] ay in separate quarters. But again special treatment goes only as far as medical conditions allow. But he does not leave the BJMP,” he said.

(He's in medical, right? He's still in confinement. He and Senator Rodante Marcoleta are in separate quarters. But again special treatment goes only as far as medical conditions allow. But he does not leave the BJMP.)

According to him, Romualdez was not receiving visitors outside the designated area and had very few visitors, mostly family members and counsel.

On Tuesday, columnist Ramon Tulfo made the allegations, citing information from a source he referred to as his “tweety bird.”

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) launched an investigation into allegations that Romualdez has been sneaking out of the Quezon City Jail.

According to the BJMP, initial CCTV verification showed no recorded power or surveillance camera interruptions and no movement by Romualdez outside the facility during the period examined.

“Initial CCTV verification by BJMP National Headquarters showed no recorded power or CCTV interruption at the Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory, and no recorded movement of Rep. Martin Romualdez outside the facility during the period examined,” the BJMP said on Wednesday.

Following the issue, the Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered BJMP officials to testify before the anti-graft court on Thursday regarding the status of Romualdez in detention.

On Thursday, Tulfo apologized, saying he was fed the wrong information about Romualdez. —AOL, GMA News