Doctors from the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), a government-run hospital, have found former House Speaker and Leyte’s 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez “clinically stable,” paving the way for his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas.
UP–PGH director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi said the PGH medical team found that Romualdez had a low risk of an imminent heart attack and did not have an imperative medical need to remain hospitalized.
Romualdez’s doctors had initially said he needed continued hospitalization due to cardiovascular concerns.
Dr. Rody Sy, his cardiologist, had previously said Romualdez could need four to six weeks of recovery because of the effects of stress.
Depressive symptoms
Romualdez was also reported to be experiencing depressive symptoms and anxiety.
The lawmaker had also been reported to have hypertension, diabetes, and chronic cerebrovascular disease.
These conditions were reportedly under control at the time of the PGH assessment, according to Philstar.
Legaspi said PGH specialists had verified Romualdez’s previous medical findings.
However, following a new assessment, they determined that continued acute hospital care was not medically necessary.
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Transfer order to jail
After hearing the testimony of PGH director Gerardo Legaspi, the Sandiganbayan ordered Romualdez transferred to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, as announced by Associate Justice Karl Miranda.
“In view of the findings of the PGH … the court hereby orders the transfer of custody of accused Romualdez to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory,” Miranda said.
In response, Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said during an ambush interview following the court hearing that Romualdez “respects this [court] and he will follow the law.”
Romualdez also thanked his doctors at Cardinal Santos Medical Center, as well as the doctors who examined him at PGH, and said he would continue to follow their medical advice.
Romualdez is now behind bars
Before the day ended on Monday, the Leyte representative was already behind bars.
He arrived at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in a convoy at about 10:09 p.m. on September 14 after being transferred from PGH.
New mugshots of the lawmaker were also released on Tuesday, September 15.
Romualdez is scheduled to undergo arraignment and pre-trial proceedings for the plunder case on Wednesday.
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