Sandiganbayan orders PNP to submit reports on Marcoleta’s status

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Wednesday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to submit reports on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s current condition.

Marcoleta faces a plunder case before the anti-graft court’s Third Division over the P75 million campaign donation he received while serving as a party-list lawmaker, which, according to state prosecutors, was not declared in his financial and campaign disclosures.

READ: Ombudsman files plunder case vs Marcoleta in Sandiganbayan

In its resolution, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered Col. John Guiagui, chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and the PNP General Hospital to separately submit reports on Marcoleta’s custody, booking process, detention, and medical condition.

The court gave them “a non-extendible time of 24 hours” from receipt of the court’s notice.

On Wednesday, PNP spokesperson PCol. Allen Rae Co, citing the PNP Health Service, said Marcoleta “is not yet fit for travel” after experiencing chest pains and high blood pressure.

READ: Marcoleta not fit to travel, to remain under medical observation — PNP

Once cleared by the PNP hospital, Marcoleta is expected to appear at the Third Division courtroom. 

READ: Marcoleta to be detained at Payatas jail over plunder case

The Third Division also clarified that it has yet to issue a commitment order for Marcoleta, contradicting PNP’s earlier statement.

Also facing plunder charges are the senator’s three donors: former Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu.

To date, the police have returned the warrants for Marcoleta, Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray. Except for Marcoleta, all his co-accused are already detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas.

The arraignment and pretrial of Marcoleta and his co-accused were initially scheduled for July 10 but have since been postponed due to pending motions. /mcm