Martin Romualdez deemed flight risk by DILG despite health issues

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is treating former speaker Martin Romualdez as a flight risk despite having several health conditions.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that Romualdez had enough means to escape.

“Martin Romualdez is a flight risk. Dalawa ang kanyang private jet, tatlo ang kanyang helicopter, tatlo ang kanyang yacht. He is a flight risk. Kaya gagawin na namin ang lahat ahead of time para preventive ang kanyang containment dito,” Remulla said.

(Marton Romualdez is a flight risk. He had two private jets, three helicopters, and three yachts. He is a flight risk, so we will do everything ahead of time to make his containment here preventive.)

Romualdez, former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, Romualdez's personal assistant Joselyn Tragua Serenio; and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp. president Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corporation have been charged with plunder before the Sandiganbayan.

The charges are in connection with the alleged P7.4 billion in kickbacks from flood control and other government projects from 2022 to 2025.

The court in issuing the warrant of arrest on Romualdez and his co-accused also issued a hold-departure order.

Co is in Europe and is the subject of a request for a red notice from the Interpol. Serenio and Guevarra are also at large.

A lawyer fo Romualdez has said that he will face all allegations against him in connection with his alleged links to the kickback scheme involving the flood control mess, his camp said Monday.

He has repeatedly denied allegations that he benefited from kickbacks tied to the flood control projects.

“We respect the courts and the legal process. Representative Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez will face the allegations against him in accordance with law,” Atty. Ade Fajardo, counsel of Romualdez, said in a statement.

“We recognize the public interest surrounding this case. But ultimately, criminal liability must be determined by the evidence presented in court, under the rules and safeguards of our justice system,” he added.

Romualdez's camp has since asked the Sandiganbayan to grant him continued hospital confinement, citing a medical history concerning his cardiovascular health and brain condition.

In another report on "24 Oras" by Maki Pulido, Romualdez’s doctors have reported that moving him may pose a risk to him, considering his medical conditions.

The former speaker has complained of chest pains, and he has coronary artery disease and psychological anxiety, his camp said.

Doctors from the Philippine National Police have already assessed the former speaker and came up with the same conclusion as his doctors, Remulla said.

Remulla stressed that he received no orders from President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to treat Romualdez differently, even if Romualdez is Marcos’ cousin.

The DILG chief said that Romualdez being his fraternity brother also had no bearing.

“I told him, ‘Brother, I hope you understand why I’m doing this. It’s nothing personal,’ and he said, ‘It’s okay, I understand’,” Remulla said in a mix of English and Filipino. –Jean Mangaluz/NB, GMA News