Martin sneaking out of jail? Sandigan wants explanation

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered officials of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to testify today on the status of detention of former House speaker Martin Romualdez at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.

In a resolution, the anti-graft court ordered jail warden Supt. Maria Lourdes Pacion and medical officer Henry Fabro to appear before the court and testify.

It also ordered Pacion to “immediately preserve and safeguard” all relevant CCTV recordings, logs and electronic/digital records in BJMP’s file.

The order was issued amid reports that the former speaker was being allowed to leave detention and come back when he pleases.

Malacañang denied the allegation, which was raised by veteran broadcaster Ramon Tulfo.

Romualdez is awaiting trial for plunder, a non-bailable offense.

“No person or group should be given special treatment over the ordinary person. Everyone must be treated equally – regardless of one’s position, personal relationships or color,” Palace press officer Claire Castro said at a briefing, when asked to comment on Tulfo’s claims.

Castro said CCTV footage from the BJMP showed that Romualdez was not observed moving outside the facility. The Palace official said the BJMP led by director Efren Nemeno “takes these allegations seriously.”

Castro said on Nov. 3, BJMP Jail director Efren Nemeño ordered an immediate investigation on Romualdez’s supposed trips outside the New Quezon City Jail.

“Initial CCTV verification by BJMP National Headquarters shows no recorded power or CCTV interruption at the Quezon City Jail male dormitory and no recorded movement of Rep. Martin Romualdez outside the facility during the period examined. The investigation is ongoing,” Castro said, quoting a statement from BJMP spokesman Supt. Jayrex Joseph Bustinera.

“The BJMP reiterates that all PDL are subject to the same custodial rules and that any movement outside the jail requires a proper court order. We welcome relevant information from the public and will cooperate with any investigation by other government agencies,” she said.

“The BJMP assures the public of its commitment to professionalism, transparency and equal treatment of all PDL without distinction or special privilege,” Castro added.

To those who doubt the BJMP, Castro urged them to visit the office and check its CCTV footage themselves.

“Then you can – maybe they (BJMP) can assure you that there are no irregularities going on in the said Quezon City Payatas Jail,” she said.

Castro also questioned the motive of those spreading “fake information” about Romualdez.

“The motive here is to undermine the government and destroy the credibility of agencies that are fulfilling their mandates,” she said.

As one of the “big fish” in the multibillion-peso flood control controversy,  Romualdez is subject to heightened security protocols from jail authorities, Castro added.

“So, let’s not spin it like that because we know that [former] speaker Romualdez is one of the big fish being monitored so that the truth will be uncovered,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has denied the petition of Romualdez’s camp contesting the preliminary investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman on his case.

The high court also “denied Romualdez’s prayer for a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the respondent (ombudsman) from continuing the preliminary investigation.”

“The SC ruled that the petition has become moot, or no longer needs to be resolved, because a plunder charge had already been filed against Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan, where he was arraigned and pleaded not guilty,” the high tribunal said in a briefer.

“The SC also found no exceptional circumstances that would justify resolving the petition despite its having become moot.” - Helen Flores, Emmanuel Tupas, Ghio Ong