By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was brought to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Saturday for an independent medical examination ordered by the Sandiganbayan as the anti-graft court weighs whether he still needs hospital confinement while under detention.
Romualdez was transferred from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City to the state-run PGH following an order from the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
The court directed PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi or his authorized representatives to conduct the assessment independently of Romualdez’s doctors at Cardinal Santos and determine whether continued hospitalization is medically necessary.
The examination is part of the court’s review of Romualdez’s plea to remain confined in a hospital rather than be transferred to a regular detention facility.
The PGH medical team has been ordered to submit its findings and recommendations to the Sandiganbayan by September 13 and appear before the court the following day to testify on whether Romualdez has an imperative need for continued hospital confinement.
Romualdez, who remains under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, is facing a PHP7.4-billion plunder case stemming from alleged irregularities involving flood-control and other government infrastructure projects.
The Sandiganbayan earlier emphasized that medical necessity, rather than the accused’s position or status, must determine whether hospital confinement should continue.
Romualdez has maintained that his medical condition requires continued hospital care. His doctors at Cardinal Santos previously cited cardiovascular and other health concerns, while one physician testified that he faced a high risk of a possible heart attack.
The independent assessment at PGH is expected to provide the court with a separate medical basis for deciding Romualdez’s detention arrangement.
The court has ordered that Romualdez remain at PGH under the care of its doctors until further orders.
ia/xf
