Senator Rodante Marcoleta remains confined at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital, where doctors continue to evaluate his condition while he is under police custody following his arrest on a non-bailable plunder charge.
According to Lt. Col. Benaly Bayani, chief of the hospital’s Internal Medicine Department, the 72-year-old lawmaker is being closely monitored after developing elevated blood pressure.
Marcoleta is also being treated for mild pneumonia and degenerative disc disease, a condition affecting the spine.
Bayani said the senator’s condition has generally improved, although his blood pressure remains a concern.
“Right now, Senator Marcoleta is okay, but his BP is higher today compared to yesterday and is 160/90. His other symptoms, like yesterday’s chest pain and then the pain, are somewhat gone, so our problem now is really with BP.”
She explained that his current blood pressure reading requires close observation.
“160/90 is considered hypertensive stage 2. At his age (72), 160/90 is high for him, so he has symptoms like chest pain, back pain, and things like that.”
Doctors have already completed his chest and cervical spine X-rays, while additional examinations, including a 2D echocardiogram and blood chemistry tests, are still pending.
When asked whether Marcoleta is fit to attend court proceedings or travel, Bayani replied:
“Not at the moment.”
Bayani also clarified that it is still uncertain when the senator developed pneumonia.
“I can’t say, sir, when it developed. It could be that when he was admitted to us a day ago, he already has it, or it can’t be that he is here in the hospital, he already has pneumonia because he was just admitted yesterday, so definitely not here in the hospital, maybe it was outside, maybe he already had it prior to his admission to the hospital.”
Aside from his current treatment, Marcoleta is also taking medication for prostatic hyperplasia.
The senator was taken into PNP custody after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a plunder case.
The charge is linked to the alleged failure to declare a reported ₱75-million campaign donation from former Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
Defensor and his co-accused are currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.