Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Friday challenged former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez to “face the charges” against him, as the lawmaker remains under detention over a plunder case linked to an alleged government infrastructure kickback scheme.
“Face the music. Face the charges like a real man should. Man up to it,” Remulla said in a press briefing.
Remulla said Romualdez should accept the legal proceedings with “dignity,” criticizing what he described as efforts by the lawmaker’s camp to seek special treatment.
“We stand by the rule of law in this country. And we don't want people to have special treatment... ‘Yun talaga ‘yung gusto nating mangyari na pare-pareho lang ang hustisya sa mayaman at sa mahirap,” Remulla said in a press briefing.
The Ombudsman noted that many people detained in facilities under the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are in worse conditions than Romualdez.
The Sandiganbayan earlier ordered Romualdez’s transfer to the UP-Philippine General Hospital from detention at the BJMP.
Sandiganbayan orders transfer of Romualdez to UP-PGH
Remulla said the Ombudsman would ask doctors at PGH to assess whether Romualdez is fit to return to BJMP custody.
The former House speaker had been detained after the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against him over an alleged kickback scheme involving government infrastructure projects.
Remulla also expressed disappointment over Romualdez's bid for hospital confinement.
“It's very sad that that guy— that the former speaker is resorting to this. I know him very well. I know him very well, but he should take it with more dignity,” he said.
Remulla also described Romualdez as a “big fish” in the ongoing investigation into alleged corruption in flood control projects.
“Big fish ‘yan… So far, parang wala nang mas mataas pa sa ranggo,” Remulla said.
“Of course, mayroon pa tayo iba tinitingnan, pero sa ngayon, siya pa lang ‘yung nakukuha na mataas na ranggo, pinakamataas na ranggo,” he added.
Sandiganbayan: Romualdez to remain at Cardinal Santos for now