Person of interest in doctor’s slay surrenders to NBI agents
By PAULO DS. PAPA
The person of interest in the slay case of Dr. Rajean Monnette Romualdez surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) this afternoon.
The surrender was confirmed by Senior Agent Joey Ajero when reporters inquired about the legal status of Raymart Martinez, the person of interest in the case.
At around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, the local media received an initial report that Martinez had been found in a coastal area in Matnog, Sorsogon. This was later confirmed by the NBI through a text message.
Martinez is now under the custody of the NBI district office in Naga City, where he is also being interviewed.
He stated that he would only make disclosures in the presence of his lawyer, refusing to answer questions regarding his disappearance following Romualdez’s death. He broke into tears when reminded that the doctor’s 37th birthday would have been on February 20.
A few minutes before Martinez faced the press, Ajero, in a media interview, said that he would not release any statement regarding the surrender until it was cleared by the NBI central office.
After some time, Ajero finally appeared before the press and stated that the NBI would provide collected evidence to support the case. However, he emphasized that the Philippine National Police (PNP), as the lead investigative agency, would determine the direction of the case.
Martinez was the lover of Dr. Rajean Monnette Romualdez, a 36-year-old physician at Bicol Medical Center, who was found lifeless last Sunday at around 2:00 p.m. She was discovered in the passenger seat of a gray Toyota Vios parked along Princeton St., Monterey Village, Barangay Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City.
Upon receiving the report about the doctor’s body, police authorities rushed to the area and found her with a gunshot wound on the left side of her head.
In a press briefing on Monday morning, police officials stated that on Saturday, February 15, the doctor, a resident of Singalong, Metro Manila, was last seen alive with her boyfriend, Martinez. She reportedly left her apartment nearby, using the said vehicle.
Martinez, a 34-year-old businessman from Barangay Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City, is currently considered the person of interest in the crime, given that he was last seen with the victim hours before her death. The motive for the crime is yet to be determined by the special investigation team, which was formed to resolve the case.
The Philippine National Police, through the airwaves, called the attention of Raymart Martines, urging him to surrender at any police station.
Martinez was the partner of Dr. Rajean Monnette Romualdez, a 36-year-old physician from Bicol Medical Center, who was found lifeless last Sunday at around 2:00 p.m. in the passenger seat of a gray Toyota Vios parked along Princeton St., Monteray Village, Barangay Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City.
Upon receiving the report about the doctor’s body, police authorities rushed to the scene and found her with a gunshot wound to the left side of her head.
During a press briefing on Monday morning, police officials said that on Saturday, February 15, Dr. Romualdez, a resident of Singgalong, Metro Manila, was last seen alive with her boyfriend Martinez. They left her apartment nearby, using the vehicle.
Police Lt. Col. Chester Pomar, in an interview, stated that if Martinez was indeed innocent, he must surrender to any police station. He added that through this act, the case could be resolved quickly.
Martines, a 34-year-old businessman from Doña Clara village, Barangay Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City, was considered a person of interest in the crime, as he was seen with the victim hours before her death. The motive for the crime was still unknown, according to the special investigation team led by Police City Director PCol. Erwin Rebelion.
Police Maj. Juvy Llonar, station commander of Naga City Police Station 2, said that a case conference would be held with the Scene of the Crime Operatives to discuss new information arising from the investigation into Romualdez’s death.
Meanwhile, Mayor Nelson Legacion announced on Monday morning that a reward of P200,000 would be offered to anyone who could identify the person behind the killing.
On Tuesday, businessman Noel De Luna pledged an additional P1 million reward for anyone who could locate the suspect.
De Luna, in a radio interview, stated that the mayor should return the promised bounty to the government to fund the purchase of more CCTV cameras, which were essential for recording crime incidents in the city.
The limited number of CCTV cameras in the city had been criticized by locals for hindering the documentation of crimes, which caused delays in prosecuting suspects.
To recall, the City Prosecutor’s Office failed to file a murder case against Enzo Purisima of Liboton, Naga City, due to insufficient evidence. Purisima was the suspect in the slaying of Roselle Bandojo, who went missing in July 2023 and was later found dead in an abandoned lot on Acacia St. in the same barangay.
De Luna, a registered candidate in the upcoming congressional race and a political rival of Mayor Legacion, was also running for the 3rd congressional seat in Camarines Sur.
Jackqueline Miral, the first cousin of the victim, thanked De Luna for his offer. She pleaded with Martines to cooperate with the authorities if he was truly innocent in the case. She emphasized that the victim had many aspirations, making her loss a significant blow to her family, who loved her dearly.
Romualdez was being held at the Naga Imperial Crematory and Columbary.
On February 19, 2025, operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Martinez in Matnog, Sorsogon.
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