‘Romualdez condition unstable, can't be moved yet'

POLICE doctors and the personal physicians of former speaker Martin Romualdez agree that the lawmaker is in an 'unstable' condition due to a cardiovascular event, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Tuesday. In a press conference, Remulla said doctors from the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) and Romualdez's personal physicians had discussed his condition and agreed that he should not be moved from Cardinal Santos Medical Center where he is being treated. However, since Romualdez is now considered a person deprived of liberty, PNP doctors will visit him everyday to check on his condition and as soon as he is stable, he will be transferred to the PNPGH, Remulla said. Hours before authorities served the warrant for his arrest, Romualdez was taken to the Cardinal Santos because of a cardiovascular episode, unstable blood pressure and an anxiety attack. Because of his condition, booking procedures were made at his hospital room with his detainee shirt just placed over his chest. Remulla said Romualdez suffered a mini-stroke in July. 'Transient ischemic attack, it wasn't that serious... but he suffered a cerebral vascular event last July,' he said. 'Only his immediate family, doctors and lawyers are allowed to visit him.' Earlier, Remulla said they would file a motion for custody to transfer Romualdez to Camp Crame hospital and said they would grant his doctors visitation and practicing rights so they can attend to him there. No special treatment Remulla said Romualdez would receive no special treatment even though he is a first cousin of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) had completed the booking procedure for Romualdez, including taking his fingerprints and photographs and informing him of his rights in the presence of his lawyers. 'He is officially under the custody of the CIDG and is now a person deprived of liberty,' Remulla said. The CIDG has also returned the warrant of arrest to the court, with Romualdez's lawyers raising no objections to the arrest procedure or the manner in which he was treated, Remulla said. Once he is transferred to PNPGH, doctors there will assess Romualdez's fitness to stand trial. An independent team of medical experts would be involved in the assessment. Remulla rejected suggestions that hospitalization had become a way for officials facing arrest warrants to avoid immediate detention. He said authorities have no power to intercept a suspect before a warrant is issued, noting that those facing cases may learn that their cases have been raffled before law enforcement can execute the warrants. Romualdez, however, was the only one among several recent high-profile cases cited by Remulla who went directly to a hospital after the warrant was issued. No instructions from Marcos Remulla said President Marcos gave no instructions on how Romualdez should be arrested or treated despite their close family relationship. He said Romualdez was the president's closest male cousin. Remulla also acknowledged his own close relationship with Romualdez, saying they are fraternity brothers and have known each other since they were young. He noted that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is close to Romualdez and is also a fraternity brother. Despite these personal relationships, Remulla said the government would enforce the law and comply with the court's orders. 'In the interest of the state, we will do everything,' he said. 'There are no friends, no fraternity brothers, no cousin of the president. The law is the law. We will follow the court's order.' Remulla said authorities had already prepared for Romualdez's possible detention at the Quezon City Jail facility in Payatas, including his room and other requirements. Meanwhile, authorities continue to look for Romualdez's co-accused. Remulla said efforts were underway to revive a Red Notice through Interpol for Zaldy Co, while the search for the other accused was continuing. He said authorities would also provide Romualdez's medical bulletins to the public once they receive them and would try to issue updates daily.