Justice grills PNP: Why allow Marcoleta visitors if he needs isolation?

MANILA, Philippines — A Sandiganbayan justice on Friday questioned why police allowed visitors for Senator Rodante Marcoleta, despite medical findings that the lawmaker requires isolation due to mild pneumonia.

The senator’s confinement at the PNPGH began Monday, the very same day he was arrested for plunder. The charges stem from state prosecutors’ allegations that Marcoleta hid a ₱75 million campaign donation received during his tenure as a party-list representative.

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.

READ: Robin Padilla visits Rodante Marcoleta at PNP General Hospital

Marcoleta’s visitors

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.

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

READ: Marcoleta hospitalized for chest pain after arrest in plunder case

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.”

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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