Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said there was no interference from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or the Office of the Ombudsman in the arrest of former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez, stressing that law enforcement authorities carried out the court-issued warrant without fear or favor.

Remulla said that despite the close personal and familial ties between the President and Romualdez, the Chief Executive neither intervened nor issued any instruction on the former Speaker’s arrest or treatment.

Romualdez was served with the warrant at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Monday in connection with a plunder case.

“Hindi lang magpinsan ‘yan, magkapatid ‘yan. Walang kapatid na lalaki si President, siya (Romualdez) na ang pinakamalapit na pinsan niya. Kung akala ninyong madali para sa kaniya, hindi. Kung tinatanong ninyo kung may instructions para sa treatment para sa kanya, wala,” he said.

“Wala talagang instruction, wala kaming conversation leading to this,” he added.

Remulla likewise clarified that Ombudsman Boying Remulla had no prior communication with him regarding the arrest, underscoring the independence of the Ombudsman’s investigation and the DILG’s law enforcement responsibilities.

“Between the Ombudsman, the President, and I, hindi kami nag-usap for the last six days bago nangyari ito. Nag-usap lang kami ni Ombudsman kaninang umaga regarding this. But I did give a full report to Malacañang kung ano ang nangyari on a reportorial basis lang. Pero no conversation, walang nangyari,” he clarified.

The DILG chief said the Ombudsman only commented on the case after it had been filed, expressing confidence in the complaint lodged against the former Speaker.

“He’s very confident of the case na mangyayari dito. Ganoon naman ang usapan naming magkapatid. Before it is filed, hindi kami puwedeng mag-usap pero after it is filed dun na kami mag-uusap. So very confident siya sa hinain niyang kaso laban kay (former) Speaker,” he stated.

Remulla also acknowledged his and his brother’s longstanding personal ties with Romualdez, but stressed that these relationships would not stand in the way of the government’s duty to enforce the law.

“For clarity’s sake, si Ombudsman Boying, ako, at si (former) Speaker Martin ay very close friends rin. Fraternity brothers kami. Magkakasabay kami sa UP. Lalo na si Boying at si Martin ay very close. Kami rin ni Martin ay very close,” he explained.

“Pero in the interest of the state, gagawin na namin ang lahat. Wala ho kaming iniilagan dito. Wala hong kaibigan, wala hong fraternity brother, wala hong pinsan si Presidente. Ang batas ay batas, ang utos ng Korte ay susundin namin,” he continued.

Remulla stressed that the arrest underscores the government’s commitment to uphold the rule of law regardless of political position, personal relationships, or family ties.