Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was taken to a hospital after complaining of chest pain and elevated blood pressure following his surrender to authorities over the P75-million plunder case filed against him.
The senator is undergoing medical examinations after surrendering earlier in the day at the Sandiganbayan, where an arrest warrant against him was served.
“Nagreklamo si Senator Marcoleta ng chest pains, and mataas ‘yung BP niya, that’s why dinala muna sa ospital,” Robert Alexander Morico II, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, told reporters.
Morico said the senator’s blood pressure was around “150 something,” but did not provide the exact reading.
He added that Marcoleta’s medical findings will be submitted to the Sandiganbayan after doctors from the Philippine National Police complete their assessment.
Earlier, Jonvic Remulla said the 72-year-old lawmaker must first be declared medically fit before he can be committed to a detention facility.
“Sitenta’y dos na po si Senator Marcoleta, hindi na po simple na simple blood pressure at heartbeat ang kailangan sa kaniya. Marami pa po siyang pagdadaanan na mga ECG at iba pa para sigurado ang kanyang fitness,” Remulla said.
He added that the medical evaluation could take up to two days.
Morico said that once Marcoleta is declared fit, authorities will return the warrant to the Sandiganbayan. He added that the anti-graft court has yet to issue a commitment order, although Remulla earlier said the senator is expected to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas.
