Malacañang on Wednesday rejected accusations of double standards and special treatment regarding the hospital arrest of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, emphasizing that any decisions on his continued confinement rest entirely on the medical assessments of his attending physicians.
Speaking at a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro addressed growing public criticism following Romualdez’s arrest and subsequent stay at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
Romualdez, who is President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cousin, was taken into custody on Monday by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) over allegations that he and former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co received more than P7 billion in kickbacks from government projects between 2022 and 2025.
Upon his arrest, police served the warrant at the hospital, where Romualdez remains confined for multiple health conditions, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and primary hypothyroidism. Critics have alleged that his hospital confinement amounts to preferential treatment.
“Sa mga kritiko, hindi mawawala ang kritisismo pero hindi natin mapipigil ang doktor kung ano ang nakikita nilang health condition ng isang akusado,” Castro said, stressing that critics should give attending doctors the benefit of the doubt.
She added that law enforcement agencies cannot overrule medical certifications. “Hindi naman din maipipilit ng PNP o ng pamunuan ng DILG na dalhin agad ang isang akusado na nasertipikahan na hindi pa nararapat na tanggalin or i-remove from the hospital,” she said.
Addressing questions regarding President Marcos’ position on the matter, Castro said she had no information on whether the Chief Executive has spoken to or plans to visit his cousin. She maintained that the President’s personal feelings are irrelevant to the ongoing legal process.
“Ang pakiramdam po ng Pangulo, personal ay hindi naman po siguro ito dapat na alamin natin. Ang kailangan lang po dito ay dapat mapanagot, ang dapat na mapanagot,” Castro said. “Hindi na po siguro makakaapekto kung ano man ang damdamin ng Pangulo, masaya, malungkot ano man, hindi na po siya importante.”
Castro also dismissed claims that President Marcos had “dropped” Romualdez politically, asserting that the charges were the result of an independent investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Ito naman po, according to the Office of the Ombudsman, mayroon silang nakitang ebidensiya. So, walang dapat nilalaglag dito; kung ano lang iyong ebidensiya na nandidiyan, iyon lang, doon lang tayo bumase,” Castro said, reiterating that the administration adheres to due process and does not engage in fabricating evidence.