Sandiganbayan Questions VIP Visits to Detained Senator Marcoleta

The Sandiganbayan has questioned the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) for allowing visits from high-profile figures like Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Robinhood Padilla to Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who was allegedly under isolation due to a contagious disease. Marcoleta, facing a non-bailable plunder charge for undeclared P75 million in campaign donations, has been confined at the PNPGH since his arrest. The hospital had initially reported him suffering from mild pneumonia, degenerative disc disease, and hypertension. However, the Sandiganbayan Third Division, skeptical about the health assessment, ordered the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) to conduct an independent medical examination of Marcoleta within three days. The PGH director was directed to submit a report determining whether Marcoleta's continued confinement at the PNPGH is medically necessary. In light of this, the PNPGH declared Marcoleta "fit to travel" and physically capable of appearing before the Sandiganbayan. The PNPGH Internal Medicine chief recommended that the court allow the senator to complete his seven-day course of antibiotics before transferring him, provided he wears a face mask. Meanwhile, the Sandiganbayan reprimanded police officials for the apparent breach of medical protocol, questioning how Duterte and Padilla were permitted to see a patient supposedly under medical isolation. PNP Health Service Director Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad admitted the incident was "a lapse on our part." Lt. Col. Belany Bayani, PNPGH Internal Medicine chief, stated she was not present during the visits and deferred the matter to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). Col. John Guiagui, CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit chief, maintained that security personnel had been strict in approving visitation requests. He explained that the visits by Duterte and Padilla were approved because they were personally requested by the detained senator, aside from visits by his immediate family and lawyers. Guiagui suggested that visitation requests be coursed through the Sandiganbayan to address concerns of special treatment, adding that visitors would be limited to lawyers and immediate family members going forward. Marcoleta is expected to be brought before the Sandiganbayan immediately once medically cleared. The court has yet to issue a formal commitment order as Marcoleta has not physically appeared before the Third Division since his booking.