MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday affirmed full compliance with all Sandiganbayan directives as to the custody and medical monitoring of detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
“The Philippine National Police has fully complied with the directives of the Sandiganbayan. We promptly submitted the required documents, including the medical report, and we will continue to provide any information the court may require,” PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said in statement.
This was after Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno questioned the PNP General Hospital for allowing Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robin Padilla after it recommended that the lawmaker should be isolated due to his mild pneumonia.
Marcoleta remains confined at the PNP General Hospital after experiencing chest pains and high blood pressure following his arrest on plunder charges involving alleged undeclared campaign donations amounting to P75 million.
Duterte visited Sen. Rodante Marcoleta at the PNP General Hospital on Tuesday morning, a day after the lawmaker was arrested over plunder charges. Padilla meanwhile visited Marcoleta at the same hospital Thursday.
Asked on the basis of allowing Duterte and Padilla to visit the senator, Col. John Guiagui, chief of the PNP CIDG Regional Field Unit–National Capital Region, said the visits were granted at Marcoleta’s request.
Guiagui said the CIDG would comply with the court's directive to strictly regulate visitors and assured the court that no special treatment or favoritism would be given.
The PNP, through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), submitted Marcoleta's medical report to the Sandiganbayan Third Division on July 8 and returned the warrant of arrest on July 6 together with the senator's mugshots, fingerprints, and certificate of detention.
The Sandiganbayan has placed the senator under the custody of the CIDG while he undergoes medical evaluation.
Nartatez stressed that the PNP applies the law equally to every person under its custody regardless of status.
“The PNP enforces the law and implements court orders fairly and without favor. Every person under our custody is afforded the same lawful treatment, security, and respect for their rights, regardless of position or status. Our actions will always be guided by the rule of law, professionalism, and accountability,” Nartatez said.
