Senator Lacson lauds PGH for 'objective' medical report on Senator Marcoleta

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Thursday praised the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) for what he described as an impartial medical assessment that paved the way for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta's transfer from hospital detention to jail.

The Sandiganbayan had directed PGH to conduct an independent medical examination to determine whether Marcoleta still needed to remain confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH), where he had been staying since his arrest.

After PGH doctors found no medical condition requiring continued hospitalization, the anti-graft court ordered Marcoleta's transfer to the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Barangay Payatas.

Reacting to the development, Lacson questioned the senator's apparent recovery after observing him leave the Sandiganbayan.

"It’s a MIRACLE! Naka wheelchair pumasok, brisk walk lumabas. Kudos to UP-PGH for putting professionalism and integrity above all other considerations in submitting their medical report to the Sandiganbayan," Lacson wrote in a post on X.

Marcoleta was arrested on July 6 after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant against him and three co-accused in connection with plunder and graft charges involving an alleged P75-million campaign donation that prosecutors said he failed to disclose while serving as a party-list representative.

Rather than being immediately committed to a detention facility, Marcoleta was admitted to the PNPGH after complaining of chest pains and hypertension. Doctors also diagnosed him with mild pneumonia during his confinement, where he reportedly received visits from Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

Following the independent evaluation, PGH physicians cleared Marcoleta of mild pneumonia, while the PNPGH also certified that he was fit to travel.

Citing those findings, Sandiganbayan Third Division Chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda ordered the senator's transfer to jail.

“In view of the findings of the PGH and also of the Philippine National Police General Hospital, the court hereby orders the transfer of Marcoleta to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory,” Miranda said in the order.

The transfer ended Marcoleta's nine-day hospital confinement under arrest.

-Paraluman News