The Philippine National Police (PNP) has imposed stricter security measures for Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who remains under hospital detention at the PNP General Hospital while facing a non-bailable plunder case.
CIDG-NCR chief Col. John Guiagui said only Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Robin Padilla have been allowed to visit the senator.
He explained that the limited access was approved in accordance with the requests of Marcoleta and his family.
“Restricted lang ‘yung pumapasok at tsaka very limited lang siya. Kung sino lang ‘yung nag-request na tao. Dahil ito din yung request ni Sen. Marcoleta and his family,”
Guiagui added that several individuals had sought permission to see the senator, but authorities decided to restrict visitors because of his health condition.
“So kung makikita nyo si Sen. Robin Padilla and Vice President Sara Duterte lang. Ang daming gustong pumunta but we are restricting it na hindi sila pwede because of his medical condition.”
The issue arose after Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Ronald Moreno questioned whether such visits were appropriate, considering that Marcoleta has been placed in isolation after being diagnosed with mild pneumonia.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Benaly Bayani, who heads the Internal Medicine Department of the PNP General Hospital, said her office will coordinate with the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to ensure that restrictions on visitors remain in place while the senator recovers.
Marcoleta was arrested earlier this week over allegations that he failed to disclose ₱75 million in campaign donations during his 2025 senatorial bid.
Aside from pneumonia, medical records show that he is also undergoing treatment for degenerative disc disease and high cholesterol.