A doctor warned against allowing the medical profession to be weaponized as a shield to delay or avoid legal accountability, as nationwide scrutiny intensifies over former House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s hospital confinement following his arrest in the ₱7.4‑billion plunder case.
Dr. Melissa Camille Mangulabnan Capinpin said physicians must uphold their ethical duty to treat patients while ensuring medical care is not exploited by individuals facing criminal proceedings. Her remarks came amid questions surrounding Romualdez’s continued stay at Cardinal Santos Medical Center after authorities served his arrest warrant on Sept. 7.
“Respect our profession. Let’s not allow the medical profession to be used as a shield by plunderers, criminals, or anyone trying to evade justice. Our duty is to care for patients, not to help anyone escape accountability,” she said.
The statement came as the Sandiganbayan Third Division reviewed Romualdez’s request to remain confined at the hospital instead of being transferred to a detention facility. During the proceedings, admitting physician Dr. Kurt Allen Sibayan testified that Romualdez’s admission was “unusual,” noting he was brought directly to a private room instead of undergoing the standard emergency room assessment for chest pain.
Sibayan added that he never personally examined Romualdez because attending physician Dr. Rosalio Torres barred him from entering the room, limiting his role to preparing and signing a medical abstract based on second‑hand information. The testimony came as the court examined medical records and heard from physicians to determine whether Romualdez’s continued hospital confinement was medically necessary.
Romualdez has been under arrest since Sept. 7 after the Ombudsman filed the ₱7.4‑billion plunder case against him over amassing ill‑gotten wealth. His booking was conducted inside the hospital, and he skipped appearing before the Sandiganbayan after his camp claimed he was “medically unfit to travel.”
The Sandiganbayan later ordered his transfer to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas following hospital confinement, with his arraignment and pre‑trial set for Sept. 14 at 8:30 a.m.
