MANILA — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has vowed to investigate possible preferential treatment of detained former House Speaker Martin Romualdez after questioning why the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) allowed him to have a personal aide from outside the detention facility.
Remulla questioned the legality and justification of the arrangement, raising concerns over special privileges being extended to influential detainees and demanding accountability from jail officials who authorized it.
Speaking on his DZRH radio program on Saturday, Remulla expressed disbelief that a detainee could be allowed to receive personal assistance from someone outside the jail.
“Nagugulat ako eh.. Walang dahilan para payagan ‘yan. Ano ‘yan? Mayroong nakakulong na mayaman na may alalay? Na galing sa labas? Ano ‘yan? Mafia?,” Remulla said.
He vowed to determine who approved the arrangement and whether jail officials violated existing regulations, although he declined to identify the individuals allegedly involved.
“Imbestigahan ko ‘yan,” he added.
The controversy has also prompted the BJMP to launch its own investigation into the arrangement reportedly authorized by one of its jail wardens.
The bureau said it would submit a detailed report to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), complying with a directive from the department secretary.
Amid mounting questions over Romualdez’s detention conditions, the BJMP maintained that no detainee, regardless of political influence or social standing, should receive unauthorized privileges.
“The BJMP will not tolerate unauthorized privileges or any form of preferential treatment in the custody of persons deprived of liberty. Should any violation of policies be established, appropriate action will be taken against the personnel found responsible,” the agency said.
The investigations are expected to establish whether the arrangement violated jail regulations and whether administrative sanctions should be imposed on personnel responsible for approving it./PN
