Metro Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Friday, Nov. 6, surprise inspections at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas after learning of reports that Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez had been allowed to have a personal assistant (PA) inside the facility.
Remulla said he would personally visit the jail without prior notice, at any hour, to check whether officials were following jail rules and ensure that no detainee was receiving special treatment.
“Actually yung PA, ngayon ko lang narinig ‘yon eh. Kaya lalo ko nagalit; nagagalit ako pag ganun eh. Hindi pwede yun,” Remulla said, referring to the reported arrangement.
[Translation: Actually the PA, it was the first time I heard about it. That made me more mad; I am mad if that is the case. That is not allowed.]
READ: Romualdez has personal staff in jail – BJMP
He said he has yet to validate the information, but noted that allowing a PA inside the jail would be improper and pose a security risk.
“That’s favoring somebody. That’s a violation of the oath they took,” he said, warning that the jail superintendent and other Bureau of Jail Management and Penology personnel could be dismissed if found responsible.
