Ombudsman slams ‘mafia-like’ treatment of Romualdez

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla scored jail officials for what he described as “mafia-like” treatment of former speaker Martin Romualdez inside the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, vowing to go after officials responsible for the unwarranted perks.

In his “Executive Session” program on radio dzRH over the weekend, Remulla said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) should be “ashamed” for letting Romualdez maintain a personal assistant inside the detention facility.

“What is that, detained rich person with an assistant from the outside? What is that, mafia? Shame on you, BJMP,” he said.

Remulla also revealed the Office of the Ombudsman has “identified a group” behind such arrangement.

“I just don’t want to name names (yet). I know this group. This goes deep,” he noted.

Last week, Quezon City Jail Warden Supt. Maria Lourdes Pacion revealed before the Sandiganbayan Third Division that jail management allowed a personal assistant to accompany the Leyte congressman while in detention due to “human consideration.”

Remulla said he will conduct a “surprise inspection at the city jail, where other high-profile detainees like Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are held.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft court has summoned Pacion, Dr. Henry Fabro and information technology personnel of the New Quezon City Jail today.

It also ordered the city jail to present its closed-circuit television surveillance logs, status reports and maintenance records, as well as documentation on power outages, logbook of visiting cars and use of ambulance and list of on-duty medical personnel.

The Sandiganbayan ordered an investigation into journalist Ramon Tulfo’s claims that Romualdez was able to leave the city jail using its backdoor staircase. Tulfo already retracted his statement following demands from the Romualdez camp, claiming he was fed with wrong information.

Romualdez, who is facing a plunder case over allegations that he amassed P7.4 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects, has been attending scheduled hearings through videoconferencing.