MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday said it will block any bid by the camp of former speaker Martin Romualdez to remain in hospital and will seek an examination by a team of government physicians to determine whether he requires confinement.
“The prosecutors will strongly oppose the motion,” Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a statement.
“In fact, the prosecutors will ask that not just one doctor but a team of government doctors assess whether or not the illnesses declared need confinement or can be managed outside of the hospital,” he added.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Romualdez arrested last Monday, September 7, just hours after the Ombudsman filed a P7.44 billion plunder case against him and three others over alleged kickbacks from flood control and other government infrastructure projects.
Authorities enforced the arrest order at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City where Romualdez was confined for cardiovascular ailment and unstable blood pressure.
“If his illnesses can be managed from outside of the hospital, the prosecutors will move that he be immediately transferred to the regular detention facility as all other accused in non-bailable cases,” Clavano said.
