Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, on Saturday, June 11 pointed to what he described as a recurring pattern wherein high-profile personalities get hospitalized after being cited in contempt by the Senate or while facing arrest in criminal cases.

Lacson cited this phenomenon after former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan and Senator Rodante Marcoleta--who both face plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan--were confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP-GH).

"Since time immemorial, when a prominent personality is cited in contempt or faces arrest, he/she suddenly gets sick and needs to be hospitalized. Bonoan was arrested and was confined in the hospital. Before that, we have seen big personalities who are confined in the hospital instead of being brought to jail. This is the pattern I have noticed," he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.

"This is the pattern that many ordinary Filipinos have brought to my attention, hence my recent post on X last July 8," he added.

Last Wednesday, Lacson posted on X: "WARNING: Bawal magkasakit. Mahal ang gamot. Bawal magka-‘warrant’. Baka magkasakit (You can't get sick. Medicines are costly. You can't be issued a warrant. You might get sick)."

"When the arrest warrant comes out, so does the medical condition - you name it - pneumonia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels. Some require neck braces, others have back pains. The diseases come out when the arrest warrant comes out," he added.

Also, Lacson raised the question of who will foot the bill for the stay of Bonoan and Marcoleta at the PNP-GH, where both are being "confined" while facing charges before the Sandiganbayan.

He pointed out that the PNP-GH was primarily intended for PNP personnel and their dependents. Reports said some of whom have been denied admission despite being entitled to its services.

Lacson, who served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, said he intends to raise the issue during the deliberations on the proposed 2027 budgets of the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

"One issue is that the PNP-GH has its own budget, funded by taxpayers. Those authorized to be confined there are PNP members or their dependents. But who shoulders the costs for the stay and medication of Bonoan and Marcoleta? As far as I know, neither of them are PNP dependents," he said.

"There are PNP members who are denied admission at the PNP-GH. There are also times when its facilities admit those who are not PNP members or dependents. Who pays for their stay?" he added.

Lacson also pointed out that the late former senator Juan Ponce Enrile was also confined at the PNP-GH when he faced charges related to the Napoles pork barrel scam in the 2010s - but at least Enrile had served as defense secretary, and the PNP was once part of the defense establishment when it was still the Philippine Constabulary.

He said he intends to seek clarification from the PNP and DILG once deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget begin

"I intend to raise this when the budget deliberations for the PNP and DILG for 2027 starts. I will ask, who are authorized to be confined there and who shoulders the expenses for the PNP-GH when non-dependents are confined there?" he said.