PNP: No jail time yet for Marcoleta

The development came as a PNP physician recommended that the 72-year-old senator be placed in an isolated detention facility, rather than with the regular jail population, once he is discharged from the hospital because of his age, weakened immune system and ongoing medical treatment. In a statement on Thursday, the PNP said the Sandiganbayan had issued a commitment order placing Marcoleta under the custody of the PNP’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) pending trial and until further orders from the anti-graft court. “The PNP confirms that a commitment order was issued by the Sandiganbayan placing Senator Marcoleta under the custody of the PNP-CIDG pending trial and until further orders from the court,” the PNP said. The police clarified, however, that Marcoleta will remain confined at the PNPGH​in Camp Crame as he continues to undergo medical evaluation. “As of this date, Senator Marcoleta is still undergoing medical evaluation and treatment at the​ ​PNPGH, and there is no other commitment order for him to be placed in a detention facility,” the PNP said. Marcoleta has been hospitalized since Monday after complaining of chest pain, nape pain and elevated blood pressure during booking procedures following his arrest. Police said his blood pressure has continued to fluctuate, requiring further monitoring and treatment. The CIDG served the warrant of arrest against Marcoleta on July 6 after the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered his arrest in connection with a plunder case alleging he received P75 million in undeclared campaign contributions before the 2025 elections. Marcoleta has denied the allegations. Also arrested were his co-accused, former congressman Mike Defensor, Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray. Earlier, the Sandiganbayan directed the PNP to submit Marcoleta’s medical records and a report detailing the booking procedures conducted following his arrest to explain why he remained confined at the PNPGH instead of being transferred to a regular detention facility. The court has yet to issue any order transferring him elsewhere while he remains under medical care. Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani, chief of the Internal Medicine Department of the PNPGH, said Marcoleta should be housed in an isolated detention facility upon discharge because he is at greater risk of infection, particularly with reports of rising Covid-19 cases. “We have to consider his age. His immune system is already weaker, so we strongly advise that he remain isolated, especially now that Covid-19 cases are increasing. If it were up to me, I would not recommend placing him with the general jail population,” Bayani said. Doctors are awaiting the results of a two-dimensional echocardiogram to determine the condition and function of Marcoleta’s heart before deciding whether he is fit for discharge. Bayani said laboratory tests showed the senator has dyslipidemia, or elevated cholesterol levels, which could increase the risk of clogged arteries if left untreated. He added that Marcoleta continues to experience intermittent chest pains and recently recorded a blood pressure reading of 140/90. Despite these findings, Bayani said Marcoleta is not in critical condition but has been advised to remain on bed rest while further diagnostic tests are completed. The senator is also being treated for mild community-acquired pneumonia, which Bayani said is responding well to antibiotic therapy. “At this point, we cannot say yet. I need to wait for all the test results to make sure nothing will happen to him once he is discharged,” Bayani said.He added that the cardiologist who will interpret the echocardiogram is a visiting civilian consultant, making it difficult to determine when the official findings will be released. Bayani also confirmed that the PNPGH has submitted an initial medical report on Marcoleta to the Sandiganbayan but has not yet received any request from the anti-graft court for an updated report. On Thursday, Sen. Robinhood Padilla visited Marcoleta at the PNPGH to check on his condition. Padilla did not disclose details of their conversation.