Personal assistant behind bars? Ombudsman takes aim at Romualdez's jail perks

National

BEING behind bars does not come with personal service, at least not without questions.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has criticized jail officials over reports that former House Speaker Martin Romualdez was allowed to keep a personal assistant while detained.

Remulla described the arrangement as “mafia-like” and said the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) should be held accountable for granting what he considered unwarranted privileges.

Speaking on his radio program “Executive Session” on dzRH over the weekend, he questioned why a detainee was allowed to have an assistant from outside the facility.

“What is that, detained rich person with an assistant from the outside? What is that, mafia? Shame on you, BJMP,” he said, as quoted by Philstar.

He also disclosed that the Office of the Ombudsman had identified a group behind the arrangement but declined to name those involved, saying the matter went deeper than what had been publicly disclosed.

His remarks followed Quezon City Jail Warden Supt. Maria Lourdes Pacion’s testimony before the Sandiganbayan Third Division last week. Pacion confirmed that jail management allowed a personal assistant to accompany Romualdez on the grounds of “human consideration.”

Remulla said he would conduct a surprise inspection of the facility, which also houses Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta.

Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan ordered Pacion, Dr. Henry Fabro and the jail’s information technology personnel to appear before the anti-graft court today.

It also directed jail authorities to submit CCTV surveillance logs, status reports, maintenance records, power outage documentation, vehicle visitation logs, ambulance usage records and the list of medical personnel on duty.

The orders are part of the court’s investigation into journalist Ramon Tulfo’s claim that Romualdez had left the facility through its backdoor staircase. Tulfo later retracted the allegation, saying he had received incorrect information following demands from the Romualdez camp.

Romualdez faces a plunder case over allegations that he amassed P7.4 billion in kickbacks from flood control projects. He has been attending scheduled hearings through videoconferencing.(MyTVCebu)