Palace says better to have deeper probe why Romualdez needs aide inside jail
MANILA – Malacañang believes a thorough investigation must be conducted as to why former House Speaker Martin Romualdez needs a personal assistant inside the New Quezon City Jail.
“Kung ito ay lumalabas na special treatment ito dapat ay hindi maging kustombre o kaugalian na nato-tolerate sa ganitong klaseng mga kondisyon at sitwasyon,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing Friday, November 6.
“Pero mas maganda po na mas magkaroon pa nang mas malalim na pag-iimbestiga dito kung bakit kinakailangan ng 24/7 na aide ni former Speaker Martin Romualdez,” she added.
QC Jail Warden Jail Superintendent Maria Lourdes Pacion told the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Thursday that she allowed Romualdez to have a personal staff member assist him inside the facility out of “human consideration”.
Asked if it is acceptable for Romualdez to have a personal aide as a person deprived of liberty, Castro said she does not want to speculate, being unaware of the lawmaker’s exact medical condition.
“Although alam natin na mayroong naka-standby na medical assistance para sa mga nakakulong, hindi po natin batid kung ano talaga ang sitwasyon ni former Speaker Martin Romualdez,” Castro stated.
“So, kung mapapatunayan na ito ay parang extravagance on his part,” she added as she agreed with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla that visitors are allowed only until 5 p.m. except legal counsels.
The Palace official also argued that the supposed “blind spots” inside the jail facility cannot be an excuse for jail officials to be negligent in their duty to monitor detainees.
“Kung anumang pagkukulang iyan dapat ipagbigay-alam sa DILG, sa BJMP ano ang dapat pang equipment na ipalagay… kailangan itong matugunan kaagad at hindi lamang ngayon ito dapat sinasabi dapat noon pa,” Castro said.
“Hindi ito magiging excuse para maging negligent ang sinumang mga naka-assign diyan na mga public officials or mga officials na dapat na nagmo-monitor ng galawin ng mga PDLs,” she added.
Meanwhile, Malacañang lauded columnist Mon Tulfo for admitting that his claim that Romualdez could go in and out of jail was wrong and “it was fiction”, calling him “very professional”.
“Sana sa lahat din ng mga nakukuryente at nagpe-fake news sa gobyerno at sa ibang mga liderato natin ay dapat umamin na sila ay mali, minsan kasi sila pa iyong matapang kapag pinupuna mo na mali,” Castro said, taking a dig against an unnamed official.