Court Orders PGH Medical Exam for Detained Senator Marcoleta Ahead of Plunder Trial

Senator Rodante Marcoleta is medically fit to stand trial, according to verbal assessments by attending physicians following a court-ordered independent medical evaluation. The 72-year-old lawmaker underwent an exhaustive battery of diagnostic tests at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) on Tuesday afternoon to officially resolve questions surrounding his true medical status.

The independent evaluation was mandated by the Sandiganbayan Third Division following dynamic debates over whether the senator genuinely requires continued confinement at the PNP General Hospital in Camp Crame. Marcoleta was admitted to the police facility on July 6 after complaining of chest pains and high blood pressure immediately after his arrest.

Strict Security and Dynamic Diagnostics

Under heavy police escort, a handcuffed Marcoleta arrived at the Manila-based medical center in a wheelchair, wearing a protective vest over an orange detainee shirt. Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) National Capital Region Chief, Colonel John Guiagui, clarified that the wheelchair and vest were deployed as standard procedural safeguards to protect the senator from physical strain and security vulnerabilities during the transfer.

During his brief stay at UP-PGH, doctors subjected the senator to:

• Comprehensive laboratory blood work
• A 2D echocardiogram to monitor his cardiovascular stability
• Chest X-rays to evaluate previous respiratory findings
• Full pulmonary and respiratory physical examinations

Though Marcoleta’s blood pressure temporarily spiked to 160/70 upon arrival, clinicians reported his overall condition remains stable, and no new or critical illnesses were discovered. Police doctors had previously diagnosed him with mild pneumonia, an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), and degenerative disc disease.

Erasing Doubts Over Special Treatment

The push for an outside, independent evaluation materialized after state prosecutors and public observers questioned the necessity of his hospital arrest. Eyebrows were raised after high-profile figures, including Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Robin Padilla, were permitted to visit Marcoleta despite claims that he required strict medical isolation.

"I choose to believe rather than doubting 'yung evaluation ng ating mga doctors dito ay ginawa po ito ng Sandiganbayan para ma-erase na nga any doubts from the public 'yung doubts, 'yung agam-agam ng ating publiko." stated PNP Public Information Officer, Colonel Jean Fajardo.

Law enforcement officials emphasized that they welcomed the objective intervention of UP-PGH to validate the professionalism and transparency of the PNP's internal medical findings.

The ₱75-Million Plunder Case

Marcoleta was taken into custody by the CIDG after the Office of the Ombudsman filed a non-bailable plunder charge against him. State prosecutors allege that the lawmaker failed to declare a ₱75-million campaign contribution during his 2025 senailable run while serving as a sitting party-list representative. Co-accused in the same multi-million case are former Anakalusugan Representative Mike Defensor and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Raul Vasquez noted that under the anti-plunder law, ill-gotten wealth can encompass any form of undeclared pecuniary benefit or campaign kickback, reinforcing that the funds in question do not strictly need to originate from public coffers to constitute plunder.

Next Legal Steps

Following the completion of his clinical tests, Marcoleta was returned directly to Camp Crame to finish a scheduled course of antibiotics.

UP-PGH Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi is mandated to submit the formal, written medical report and recommendations to the anti-graft court by Wednesday morning. Marcoleta is expected to be physically presented before the Sandiganbayan Third Division at 8:30 AM on July 15, where the court will decide whether to issue an official commitment order transferring him to a permanent detention cell at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas.