QUEZON CITY – Medical officials have declared Sen. Rodante Marcoleta fit to travel, though the Philippine National Police (PNP) is recommending the senator complete a mandatory course of antibiotics before being transported to the Sandiganbayan.
The delay in the transfer follows a medical emergency that occurred shortly after Marcoleta’s arrest on July 6 on charges of plunder, a non-bailable offense under Philippine anti-graft laws. The senator is currently receiving treatment at the PNP General Hospital for mild pneumonia and hypertension.
The Sandiganbayan, the Philippines’ special court for graft and corruption cases created under the country’s anti-graft court charter, continues to receive daily health updates on the senator to determine the timing of his appearance and ensure that any transfer order is consistent with his current medical condition.
Medical Status and Treatment Protocol
Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani, head of Internal Medicine at the PNP General Hospital, confirmed that while the senator is stable and medically cleared for transport, the medical team advises adhering to a strict seven-day antibiotic regimen to treat the lung infection.
The current medical timeline and vitals are as follows:
- Antibiotic Completion Date: July 15, 2026, as recommended by attending physicians
- Latest Blood Pressure Reading: 130/90, described by doctors as controlled but still under observation
- Diagnosis: Mild pneumonia and high blood pressure
The senator’s hospitalization began after he reported chest and nape pains during booking procedures following his arrest. Lt. Col. Bayani clarified that the antibiotic treatment is specifically targeted at the pneumonia and is being administered alongside medications for hypertension.
Despite the medical recommendation, the PNP has indicated it will defer to the court’s authority on when to physically produce the senator before the justices, underscoring that final decisions on custodial arrangements rest with the judiciary rather than with law enforcement or hospital staff.
“He can travel anytime to be presented to them (Sandiganbayan) but what we recommended is the completion of his antibiotics,”
Bayani told reporters at Camp Crame in Quezon City, adding that any early transfer would require continued medical supervision at the receiving facility.
Judicial Proceedings and Detention
Marcoleta is scheduled to be presented before the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan, which regularly hears high-stakes corruption and plunder cases involving senior public officials. Upon his arrival at the court, a commitment order is expected to be issued, which will legally transfer his custody from the hospital and police authorities to a designated detention facility.
The plunder case involving Marcoleta also includes three other individuals. Unlike the senator, his co-accused are already in custody at the New Quezon City Jail located in Barangay Payatas, highlighting the special logistical and security considerations that typically accompany the detention of sitting lawmakers.
The Sandiganbayan maintains jurisdiction over these proceedings as the primary anti-graft court tasked with trying high-ranking public officials under the country’s anti-corruption framework, including the law defining and penalizing plunder. Any ruling on detention, bail in related lesser charges, or motions for continued medical confinement will flow from the court’s assessment of both the evidence and the senator’s health status.
The next procedural step is the issuance of the commitment order following Marcoleta’s presentation to the Third Division of the Sandiganbayan, a move that will formalize his transfer to regular detention and signal that the case is moving from arrest and intake toward full trial proceedings.