Manila Bulletin
Philippines
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Why is Marcoleta still at the PNP hospital? Here's what doctors told the Sandiganbayan
Philippines
National
Why is Marcoleta still at the PNP hospital? Here's what doctors told the Sandiganbayan
Why is Marcoleta still at the PNP hospital? Here's what doctors told the Sandiganbayan
By Jel Santos
Published Jul 12, 2026 03:45 pm
At A Glance
- PNP General Hospital Internal Medicine chief Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani told the anti-graft court that the senator's condition has improved and he is medically fit to travel as long as he wears a face mask.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who was supposed to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas, still remains at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital after being diagnosed with mild pneumonia among other illnesses.
But when can he be brought back to the courtroom of the Sandiganbayan Third Division, where he is facing a plunder case?
PNP General Hospital Internal Medicine chief Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani told the anti-graft court that the senator’s condition has improved and he is medically fit to travel as long as he wears a face mask.
She, however, recommended to the Sandiganbayan that Marcoleta complete his seven-day course of antibiotics for his mild pneumonia.
“I recommend for the antibiotics be completed. Second day of day of antibiotics now—July 15,” Bayani told the anti-graft court on Friday, July 10.
With that, the Sandiganbayan ordered the PNP hospital to provide the court with a daily notarized report on Marcoleta’s status until he is able to appear in court.
The anti-graft court also ordered the PNP General Hospital to immediately notify the court should the senator’s health improve.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Independent exam
Earlier, Third Division Chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda directed the director of the University of the Philippines Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), or his authorized representative, to conduct an independent medical examination of detained Senator Rodante Marcoleta to determine whether his continued confinement at the PNP General Hospital remained imperative.
It also directed the UP-PGH to submit, within three days after the examination, a report and recommendation on whether there is an imperative need for Marcoleta’s continued confinement at the PNP General Hospital.
“Thereafter, submit a report and recommendation to the Court in three days of such medical examination, particularly whether there is an imperative need for the continued confinement of the accused at the PNP General Hospital,” he said.
(MB FILE PHOTO)
Apology
Brigadier General Portia Manalad, the director of the PNP Health Service, apologized to the Sandiganbayan over the failure to require visitors to wear face masks while visiting detained Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who had been placed under isolation due to mild pneumonia.
“I apologize. I believe it was a lapse on our part, and it wouldn’t happen again,” Manalad told the anti-graft court after being asked why visitors were allowed despite the recommendation to isolate the senator.
She explained that while security arrangements are handled by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the PNP headquarters, decisions on medical matters—including visitor restrictions for health reasons—fall under the PNP Health Service.
In an ambush interview after the hearing, Manalad clarified that her apology was limited to the Health Service’s failure to require visitors to wear face masks.
“I’m just saying about we forgot to say na kailangan naka-mask sila because of the condition of the senator. ’Yun lang ang hiningan ko mag-apologize dahil ’yun lang ang covered ko (I’m just saying that we forgot to require them to wear masks because of the senator’s condition. That’s the only thing I apologized for, because that’s the only matter I’m responsible for),” she said.
Associate Justice Ronald Moreno raised the concern during the hearing on the compliance reports covering Marcoleta’s hospitalization and custody, questioning why Senator Robin Padilla and Vice President Sara Duterte were allowed to visit the senator at the PNP General Hospital. He stressed that if Marcoleta indeed had pneumonia, medical advice required that visits be restricted for both health and security reasons.
After finding probable cause, the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday, July 6, issued warrants of arrest and hold departure orders (HDOs) against Marcoleta and three others in the plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB).
On July 3, the OMB filed before the Sandiganbayan a plunder case, a non-bailable offense, against Marcoleta over the alleged P75 million in undeclared donations he allegedly received while he was still serving as a congressman. It also filed three separate criminal cases for alleged violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 46, or the anti-gift law, against the senator and his alleged donors.