Political analyst Lito Banayo on Tuesday said he believes former Speaker Martin Romualdez was tipped off about his impending arrest over the flood control plunder case as he cited the timing of his hospitalization and the fraternity ties between Romualdez and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla.
Banayo made the statement during an interview on Bilyonaryo News Channel’s At The Forefront with Atty. Karen Jimeno.
“I would think so,” Banayo said when asked whether Romualdez had been tipped off about his arrest.
He said the sequence of events surrounding the filing of the plunder case and issuance of the arrest warrant suggested that Romualdez and his lawyers already knew he would be arrested.
“Very clearly to me was that he knew beforehand that he was going to be charged,” Banayo said.
Banayo noted that Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano went to the Sandiganbayan shortly before noon, and followed by Remulla’s press conference announcing the case.
“Then right after that, he was already checked in sa hospital, sa Cardinal Santos,” Banayo said.
“So I think this is a small town anyway. Alam na nila, alam na ng mga abogado niya,” he added.
Banayo then cited the fraternity affiliation of Romualdez and Remulla, who are both members of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity.
“Hindi naman siguro, you know, without doubting the integrity of the Ombudsman. (Pero) Kasi kahit papano, brod mo yan sa Upsilon,” Banayo said.
Banayo, however, did not present evidence that Romualdez was actually informed in advance of the arrest warrant.
He said the hospitalization could also have been a genuine response to the stress of facing arrest.
“Because anybody who’s going to be arrested and you know you’re going to be arrested, siyempre you’ll have anxiety problems, your blood pressure will shoot up,” Banayo said.
“Natural lang na pumunta sa hospital,” he added.
Asked whether Romualdez intentionally went to the hospital to avoid detention or obtain hospital arrest, Banayo rejected the suggestion.
“No,” he said.
Banayo said Romualdez’s circumstances could naturally have caused health problems given the gravity of the situation.
“I think honest naman yung dinala siya sa hospital, just to be sure,” he said.
Romualdez was subsequently served an arrest warrant at Cardinal Santos Medical Center after the Sandiganbayan issued the warrant in connection with the flood control-related plunder case.
Authorities have said he remains under custody while hospitalized.