Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla on Tuesday declared former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez a flight risk, confirming that police have placed him under strict 24-hour armed guard following his arrest for plunder.
Speaking at a press briefing in Camp Crame, Remulla disclosed that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will file a motion before the Sandiganbayan to transfer Romualdez from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City to the PNP General Hospital in Quezon City.
“We have 24-7 two armed guards outside his room. His movement is restricted to within the hospital, up to where he needs to go within the hospital,” Remulla told reporters. He added that police personnel have also been stationed at the hospital lobby alongside a mobile patrol vehicle outside the building.
Remulla cited the lawmaker’s extensive assets as the primary reason for the heightened security. “Martin Romualdez is a flight risk. He has two private jets, three helicopters, and three yachts so he is a flight risk,” Remulla said. “We will do everything ahead of time as a preventive measure.”
Police officers served the non-bailable arrest warrant against Romualdez in his hospital room on Monday night after he checked in shortly before the anti-graft court issued the order.
On Monday, Remulla stated that doctors reported Romualdez was suffering from a “cardiovascular event, his blood pressure is unstable and he is having an anxiety attack.”
During Tuesday’s briefing, Remulla further revealed that Romualdez had suffered a stroke earlier this year. “It was transient ischemic attack, it was not that serious. The way I see it, he has no deficiency, but he suffered a cerebrovascular event last July,” Remulla said.
The DILG chief maintained that the PNP General Hospital has the medical capability to care for the former Speaker while under official custody.
“That motion will be filed tomorrow to make it clear that we do not agree to his confinement at the Cardinal Santos,” Remulla said, noting that the ultimate decision rests with the anti-graft court.
Remulla clarified that he has not spoken with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding the arrest of Romualdez, who is the Chief Executive’s first cousin.
“If you are asking if he has instructions for his treatment, there is none, zero. I can show my phone logs if you want. There are really no instructions. We didn’t have any conversation leading to this so none. There is zero instruction,” Remulla emphasized.
While acknowledging that Romualdez is the President’s “closest cousin” and that he personally shares a close relationship with the former lawmaker, Remulla stressed that law enforcement remains impartial. “The law is the law, we will obey the court’s order,” he said.
The plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman also names three co-accused former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, Romualdez’s aide Joselyn Serenio and Samchan Foreign Exchange president Felicito Guevarra.
Remulla noted that warrants are actively being served against Serenio and Guevarra. Meanwhile, Co, who is also facing earlier arrest warrants for graft and malversation involving flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro, has left the country and is reportedly seeking political asylum in France.
The Philippine government is requesting Interpol to issue a Red Notice against Co. Remulla announced that he and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla will fly to France to coordinate directly with Interpol and diplomatic authorities to secure Co’s return to the country.