Court orders Marcoleta's medical exam at UP-PGH

With questions surrounding the actual medical condition of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered officials from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to bring the senator to the UP-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) for a separate medical examination.

In a resolution dated 13 July, the anti-graft court said that Marcoleta was scheduled for a clinical evaluation at UP-PGH on 14 July at 12:00 noon in the case that the same had not yet followed the order that was earlier mandated.

Officials from the said hospital were likewise ordered to submit their report on the matter and to physically appear at a hearing on 15 July, where the accused senator would also be appearing.

To recall, the queries when it came to the current health status of Marcoleta were floated when officials from the PNP General Hospital took the witness stand at the anti-graft court.

There, the justices, particularly Associate Justice Ronald Moreno, quizzed the officers on why the respondent of the case has still not been brought to the complete standard court process.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Benely Bayani stated that Marcoleta was taking antibiotics and was currently being isolated as he was suffering from mild pneumonia, recommending that he appear at the court with a face mask to avoid contracting other illnesses.

Moreno, however, pointed out that the senator had separate visits from Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Robin Padilla–noting that both individuals were not wearing face masks.

Police Brig. Gen. Portia Manalad admitted that their institution had a lapse on the issue, stating that they were going to ensure that such recommendations were properly followed regardless of the visitor.

Marcoleta has been held at the PNP General Hospital since 6 July after he surrendered to his arrest warrant linked to a case of plunder that was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to his receipt of P75-million in campaign donations in 2025.

His three donors, former congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray, were also tagged as accused in the case and are currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail - Male Dormitory in Payatas.