Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez delivers a message during the welcome lunch for the Philippine delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 at the Grandhotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland on January 15, 2024. House of Representatives handout
MANILA — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) on Monday refuted claims that House Speaker Martin Romualdez stayed in a presidential suite.
PGH medical director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi said Romualdez was brought to a large-capacity room that could accommodate medical tests and security personnel.
“Ang aming basehan ng pagkuha ng kwarto sa kanya, una dapat secured… pangalawa, hindi siya maiistorbo ng mga pasyerte. Definitely di siya pwede sa ward kasi magulo. Pangatlo, dapat ma-accommodate ang mga security personnel,” Legaspi said.
He said there are usually six to eight security personnel outside Romualdez’s room, while three to four are inside.
Legaspi also responded to concerns raised by Romualdez’s lawyer who earlier said he hoped “nothing bad would happen” during Romualdez’s transfer from Cardinal Santos Medical Center to UP-PGH.
“Siguro di po alam ng lawyer na ‘yon kung ano ang kakayahan ng mga ospital ng gobyerno,” he told reporters.
Legaspi said medical charges would be shouldered by Romualdez, unless the court orders otherwise.
The Sandiganbayan on Monday ordered Romualdez’s transfer to the Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory in Payatas from PGH after Legaspi told the court that the ex-Speaker’s risk for an impending heart attack was low and his continued inpatient confinement was not medically required.
PGH: Romualdez’s heart attack risk low; hospital confinement not medically required