DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez will remain under hospital care until doctors determine that he is fit to be transferred to detention, stressing that there will be no special treatment despite Romualdez being a cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Remulla said on DZRH’s Damdaming Bayan that Philippine National Police (PNP) doctors have been coordinating with Romualdez’s physicians at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, where the former speaker was brought Monday afternoon.
“He suffered a stroke somewhere in July. Very unstable ang kondisyon niya,” Remulla said, adding that Romualdez was still experiencing effects from the stroke and had also suffered an anxiety attack.
Remulla said a PNP doctor would visit Romualdez daily to monitor his condition. Once doctors determine that he is fit, the government will ask the court to take custody of him from the hospital and bring him before the Sandiganbayan.
“Kapag ready na siya ay magpe-petition na kami sa court na kukunin na namin ang custody niya mula sa Cardinal Santos,” Remulla said.
Asked whether Romualdez’s hospitalization was merely a tactic to delay his detention, Remulla rejected the suggestion and compared it with the recent bail posting of Vice President Sara Duterte following her grave threats case.
“Hindi katulad kay Sara,” Remulla said. “Ito mukhang totoo to kasi naka-oxygen talaga.”
Remulla said Romualdez appeared pale when he visited him at the hospital Monday, adding that his condition did not appear to be staged.
Romualdez was brought to Cardinal Santos at about 4 p.m. Monday, according to Remulla.
The DILG chief also denied that Romualdez was receiving preferential treatment because of his relationship with Marcos.
“Wala. Talagang ginawa namin ang lahat para makuha siya,” Remulla said, adding that he had not discussed the matter with the president since last week.
Remulla also said he had not discussed the case with his brother, Ombudsman Jesus “Boying” Remulla, until Tuesday morning.
“Walang special treatment dito,” he said.
Watch the full exclusive interview below:
