Doctor admits 'unusual' setup in Martin Romualdez's hospital confinement

The doctor who admitted Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez to Cardinal Santos Medical Center said Thursday that something was unusual in the lawmaker's confinement at the hospital.

Dr. Kurt Allen Sibayan made the statement during the hearing on Romualdez's motion for continued confinement at Cardinal Santos amid a P7.4 billion plunder case he is facing over his alleged links to the flood control mess.

Sibayan told the Sandiganbayan Third Division that while he was the admitting physician when Romualdez arrived at 4 p.m. in Cardinal Santos on September 7, he was not allowed to conduct any medical examination on the former House speaker.

"We were advised that we were not allowed inside the patient's (Romualdez) room," he said.

He said the instruction was relayed to him by attending physicians of Romualdez, Dr. Rody Sy and Dr. Rosalio Torres.

Asked by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno if such prohibition is unusual, Sibayan answered in the affirmative.

He added that Romualdez did not go to the emergency room but headed straight to a hospital room.

Not an emergency case

He also said that the current ailments of Romualdez are not an emergency case, although he remains at high risk of a heart attack.

"No," Sibayan said when asked by Moreno if Romualdez's case was an emergency case.

Sibayan also said that Romualdez had been complaining of chest pain ahead of his confinement.

When Dr. Torres took the stand, he said that one of the staff members of Romualdez informed him that the latter complained of chest pains around 9 a.m. on September 7.

"I advised that he be confined to look into this problem," he said.

Torres also testified that he believes Romualdez should remain detained in Cardinal Santos because the lawmaker is at "high risk of possible heart attack."

"In case of emergency, he would have an hour [to be treated]. We believe he may not be afforded that one hour [if he is transferred to another facility]," he said.

When Moreno asked what requires Romualdez's continued confinement, Torres said unstable angina with underlying coronary disease. He said it is an impending heart attack.

Torres also mentioned mental problems during Associate Justice Karl Miranda’s clarificatory questions. —AOL, GMA News