BJMP: No power outage or Romualdez exit from QC jail

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said initial CCTV footage reviewed on Nov. 3 showed no power or CCTV interruption and no movement of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez outside a Quezon City jail, following allegations of irregularities.

“Initial CCTV verification by BJMP National Headquarters showed no recorded power or CCTV interruption at the Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory, and no recorded movement of Rep. Martin Romualdez outside the facility during the period examined,” BJMP spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera told the Inquirer on Wednesday, Nov. 4.

“The BJMP reiterates that all PDL are subject to the same custodial rules and that any movement outside the jail requires a proper court order,” he added.

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READ: Sandiganbayan orders Romualdez’s transfer to QC jail in Payatas

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He also said the BJMP was committed to professionalism, transparency, and equal treatment of all PDL, without special privileges.

The jail bureau also said it took allegations of irregularities in Romualdez’s custody seriously and that an investigation was ongoing.

Asked what period the BJMP examined through the CCTV footage, Bustinera said it covered “since his (Romualdez) last hearing when he was moved outside from his cell to the courtroom.”

READ: Sandiganbayan grants Romualdez’s motion to sign pre-trial order at QC jail

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In a social media post on Tuesday, retired columnist Ramon Tulfo alleged, citing his source, that a jail warden had cut off the power supply, disabling CCTV cameras and allowing Romualdez to leave the jail undetected.

“Dinadaan sa backdoor stairs at may waiting ambulance sa pagbaba ng stairs, ani tweety bird,” Tulfo said.

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(They’re being taken through the back stairs, and there’s an ambulance waiting at the bottom—or so says Tweety Bird.)

“Pinapapatay ni Warden ang ilaw ng buong jail upang palabasin na may brownout,” he added.

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(The warden orders the lights throughout the entire jail to be switched off to make it appear as though there is a power outage.) /mcm