The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) confirmed on Thursday that it is fully prepared to take custody of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez once a formal court commitment order is issued, assuring that he will receive no special treatment while in detention.
Romualdez is currently under hospital arrest at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, facing a non-bailable plunder charge before the anti-graft tribunal Sandiganbayan.
“The BJMP is always ready,” BJMP spokesperson Superintendent Jayrex Bustinera said when asked if facilities had been prepared for the former House leader.
“As long as there is a valid commitment order and is committed by an authorized law enforcement, the BJMP will receive commitment,” Bustinera added.
Clarifying detention policies, Bustinera emphasized that the bureau enforces strict equality across all facilities, regardless of a high-profile detainee’s status or previous public office.
“We treat all PDLs (persons deprived of liberty) equally,” Bustinera said.
Romualdez was served an arrest warrant on Monday by Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel inside his hospital room, where he had checked in roughly an hour before the Sandiganbayan issued the order. He remains under the guard of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) while undergoing medical care for unstable blood pressure and other health complications.
Addressing administrative procedures, Bustinera explained that official turnover requires physical transfer by law enforcers once a commitment order is finalized.
“The protocol is that the law enforcement agency shall bring the PDL to the jail for booking procedures. That’s the protocol,” Bustinera said.
The update follows statements from the PNP earlier Thursday confirming that medical certifications issued by attending physicians indicate Romualdez is currently “medically unfit” to travel to the Sandiganbayan to personally attend hearings regarding his motion for extended hospital confinement.