Sandiganbayan sets Friday hearing to check Marcoleta’s health status

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division will conduct a Friday hearing to seek an update on the health condition of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

Marcoleta is facing a plunder case in the anti-graft court’s Third Division over the P75-million campaign donation the senator received while being a sitting party-list lawmaker, which, according to state prosecutors, was not declared in his financial and campaign disclosures.

READ: Ombudsman files plunder case vs Marcoleta in Sandiganbayan

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Dennis Pulma, the Third Division clerk of court, told reporters on Thursday that the court required the appearance of the officials from the Philippine National Police’s hospital and health service, as well as the officials from the New Quezon City jail in Barangay Payatas.

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Pulma said their appearance is part of their compliance with the Third Division’s Wednesday order to submit reports on the status of Marcoleta’s current custody, booking process and detention, as well as the senator’s medical condition.

The court official said Marcoleta and his co-accused are not required to appear in the hearing.

On Wednesday, national police spokesperson PCol. Allen Rae Co, citing PNP Health Service, said Marcoleta “is not yet fit for travel” after experiencing chest pains and high blood pressure.

READ: Marcoleta not fit to travel, to remain under medical observation — PNP

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The police already returned the warrant of arrest against him on Monday, but the court said it has yet to release a commitment order for the senator.

Aside from Marcoleta, also facing plunder cases are the senator’s three donors, namely, former Rep. Mike Defensor and two private citizens, businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu.

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To date, the police have already returned the arrest warrants of Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray and they have been jailed in New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas since then.

The arraignment and pretrial of Marcoleta and his co-accused were initially scheduled on July 10, but it has been postponed due the accused’s pending motions. /jpv

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