VIP refuge

What amazing serendipity. Martin Romualdez checked into Cardinal Santos Medical Center about an hour before the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest on the (normally) non-bailable charge of plunder.

By the time the warrant was served by a team led by the Philippine National Police chief himself, Romualdez was already comfortably resting in a hospital bed.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told us on One News’ “Storycon” that he had to go to the hospital because its personnel were preventing the police from finding Romualdez to serve the warrant.

After Remulla threatened to charge the hospital staff with obstruction of justice, he was directed to Romualdez’s room where they had a talk before the cops led by Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez were allowed in.  

For the photo op, an orange detainee’s shirt was draped over Romualdez’s hospital garb as he lay in bed. Remulla said the shirt ostensibly could not be worn due to the monitors attached to the congressman’s body.

Considering the lengthy list of Romualdez’s supposed serious afflictions in the medical certificate submitted by his lawyers to the Sandiganbayan, he should have been getting IV treatment and perhaps wearing an oxygen mask for his “cardiovascular event.”

But maybe his doctors drew the line on the drama and refused to provide the medical props that might melt the hearts of Sandigan justices and allow his continued “hospital arrest.”

The man who once aspired to succeed his cousin as president can still avail himself of the go-to prop of VIPs facing incarceration: a wheelchair. Maybe he can borrow a neck brace from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

If the government had hoped Romualdez’s court indictment and arrest would blunt criticism – and not just from the DDS – of selective prosecution and weaponization of the ombudsman, “hospital arrest” would reinforce perceptions of special treatment for the well-connected.

It stoked suspicions that the cases against Romualdez are designed for dismissal and he would eventually be cleared of everything, like the Sandigan’s impressive dismissal (since the start of the current administration) of all the remaining forfeiture cases involving the Marcoses’ vast wealth.

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Romualdez surely understands the reason for the public dismay over his hospital stay. It follows a depressing pattern of VIPs using hospitals as a refuge from the treatment of ordinary detainees in this country.

An asylum bid in the European Union, particularly France, is another option – if the accused plunderer manages to leave the Philippines before a precautionary order is issued to prevent the departure.

Manuel Bonoan was pushed around in a wheelchair when he was held for plunder, and managed to obtain permission to be detained in the PNP General Hospital until his release after he was allowed to turn state witness. He must have miraculously recovered; he wasn’t moved to a private hospital for continued confinement following his release.

Bonoan at least looked sick, and his cancer diagnosis seems genuine. Romualdez looks sick simply of his cousin BBM and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Even at the commercial bank where I went yesterday, it was the topic of conversation: just keep stealing from public coffers; when caught, seek refuge in a hospital.

Public dismay and skepticism are unfortunate, considering the serious accusations hurled and strong words used by the ombudsman in discussing the charges filed against Romualdez, his housekeeper, Zaldy Co and a currency exchange operator.

The accusations sound more hurtful in Filipino. Ombudsman Boying Remulla did not mince words, saying the stolen money had become so massive it was bulging visibly: “Sa dami ng perang nakulimbat, hindi na maitago. Nagpupumutok na… wala nang mapaglagyan.”

It calls to mind a word from the scandal-ridden Arroyo administration: bubukol. Too much of dirty money eventually shows.

In the court filings, Romualdez is accused of wielding “institutional influence” over Zaldy Co, chair of the appropriations committee, to demand a monthly quota of P2 billion in kickbacks from Co from September 2022 until 2025.

To park the nagpupumutok na kinulimbat, shell companies were allegedly created. Romualdez even donated $2 million to Harvard University, the ombudsman said.

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The charges tend to validate a story told by Romualdez’s in-law, Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, about an uncharacteristically blistering tongue-lashing that President Marcos supposedly gave his once favorite cousin at Malacañang over budget insertions. Tiangco told me that he had never seen BBM so furious and using rude language. “Ako ang nanliliit,” Tiangco told me, adding that he wanted to leave the room but could not.

Tiangco told Storycon in another interview that BBM had asked Romualdez how much wealth would be enough, how many mansions, planes, helicopters, Ferraris. BBM reportedly told his cousin: “Martin, kayo ni Zaldy, ilang bahay ba ang gusto n’yo sa Forbes Park? Gaano karaming eroplano, helicopter? Gaano karaming caviar kaya n’yo kainin? Ilang Ferrari gusto n’yo?”

Jonvic Remulla told us yesterday that the planes, helicopters and yachts are under close watch because Romualdez is considered a flight risk. Remulla said they are also preparing to ask the Sandiganbayan for Romualdez’s transfer to the PNP General Hospital, which is equipped to handle his supposed afflictions.

The Sandiganbayan has summoned Cardinal Santos doctors to discuss the health of Romualdez. The court should also send a team from the Philippine General Hospital led by its director, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi, to conduct an independent medical assessment of Romualdez’s health condition. Legaspi did this upon the court’s request in the case of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

Romualdez has warned that he will not be the scapegoat or fall guy, and that “I will not go quietly, and I will not go alone.” The public’s reaction? Go ahead and do it already.

What the public is concerned about at this point is that VIP refuge from detention isn’t a harbinger of VIP justice ahead, which often translates into looters getting away with everything.