Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Jail Superintendent Maria Lourdes Pacion confirmed on Monday, Nov. 9, that she approved a request from the lawyer of detained former House Speaker Martin Romualdez allowing his personal assistant to remain on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
During the hearing, Pacion explained that Romualdez’s personal assistant, Arvin de Guzman, was allowed to enter the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas during regular visiting hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but was not permitted to stay inside the detention facility at all hours.
She clarified that the 24/7 approval only meant De Guzman could be contacted whenever his assistance was required, rather than being physically present inside the jail around the clock. De Guzman stayed outside BJMP premises beyond visiting hours.
The clarification follows earlier testimony on Nov. 5, when Pacion acknowledged allowing Romualdez to receive personal assistance for humanitarian considerations, citing her assessment of his condition and the facility’s limited personnel available to attend to individual detainees.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla had strongly criticized the arrangement during his DZRH radio program on Saturday, Nov. 7, questioning why a wealthy detainee would be allowed to receive assistance from someone outside the jail.
“Nagugulat ako eh. Walang dahilan ‘yan para payagan ‘yan. Ano ‘yan? Mayroong nakakulong na mayaman na may alalay? Na galing sa labas? Ano ‘yan? Mafia?” Remulla said.
“Mahiya naman kayo BJMP. Huwag kayong gaganyan-ganyan,” he added, warning against preferential treatment of detainees.
Remulla also vowed to investigate the arrangement and warned that jail personnel could face dismissal if found responsible for violating detention regulations.
In response to the controversy, the BJMP announced its own investigation into the arrangement authorized by the jail superintendent, with officials expected to determine whether established detention policies had been violated.
The disclosure comes amid continuing scrutiny of Romualdez’s detention conditions as he faces a ₱7.4-billion plunder case involving alleged irregularities in government infrastructure projects.
The Sandiganbayan has also sought detailed records concerning Romualdez’s detention, including CCTV footage, surveillance system logs, vehicle movements, and information about individuals authorized to assist him.
