Justice asks police: Why allow Marcoleta visits if he needs isolation?

MANILA, Philippines — A Sandiganbayan Third Division senior member on Friday questioned the police allowing Sen. Rodante Marcoleta visitors despite the assessment of their doctors that he needed isolation for his mild pneumonia.

Marcoleta has been confined in the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) since Monday, or the same day he was arrested for plunder 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.

Marcoleta complained of chest pain and hypertension, which led to his confinement, and further assessments learned that the senator has a mild pneumonia, among other conditions.

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READ: Robin Padilla visits Rodante Marcoleta at PNP General Hospital

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During his confinement, Marcoleta was visited by Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robin Padilla.

Associate Justice Ronald Moreno questioned this visit, as Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani, chief of Internal Medicine at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, took the witness stand at the anti-graft court’s hearing to assess Marcoleta’s health.

“Why are you allowing him to be visited if he needs isolation?” Moreno asked. “That, I cannot reconcile.”

Bayani said it was the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) which has a say on the matter.

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Asked by Moreno if the PNPGH will allow visitors for Marcoleta from now on, Bayani said: “No, sir, I will coordinate with the CIDG.”

In an interview after the hearing, Col. John Guiagui, CIDG unit director for Metro Manila, clarified that the visits of Duterte and Padilla were allowed because “that is the request of Senator Marcoleta and his family.”

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But from now on, Guiagui said: “We will follow the court order; we will see to it that visitations are restricted given his medical condition.”

Guiagui said only lawyers, immediate family, and “requested visitors due to their legal battle” are allowed to visit. /mr

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