72-year-old Marcoleta's health check may take 2 days — DILG's Remulla

Senator Rodante Marcoleta is now undergoing various medical examinations to ensure his fitness before he is committed to a jail facility, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Monday.

Marcoleta surrendered to authorities at the Sandiganbayan amid the issuance of an arrest warrant in connection with the P75-million plunder case filed against him.

“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,” DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.

(Senator Marcoleta is already 72 years old, so checking his fitness is no longer just a simple matter of blood pressure and heartbeat. He has to undergo a series of tests, including an ECG and other procedures, to ensure his medical fitness. )

Remulla said Marcoleta’s medical results will take time, but he hopes they will be available to finish it within two days.

Arrested or surrendered?

On whether Marcoleta surrendered or was arrested, Remulla replied: “It was both.”

“He went there voluntarily sa (at the) Sandiganbayan to file a motion to quash, subsequently, when it was denied, we closed down the building, we arrived, and we arrested him,” Remulla added.

For the Philippine National Police (PNP), the arrest warrant was simply served, and Marcoleta was technically arrested.

“The warrant of arrest had been effected, okay? He is arrested,” PNP chief Police General Jose Melencio Corpuz Nartatez Jr. told reporters.

Mugshot

Remulla said Marcoleta’s mugshot will be taken as how he appears to the public.

“We are not here to humiliate anyone. Kung ano man ang kaniyang kalagayan sa kaniyang buhok ay hindi ho namin wawalanghiyain. His picture will be taken as is as he appears to the public,” he said.

(We are not here to humiliate anyone. Whatever the condition of his hair, we will not disrespect him. His picture will be taken exactly as he is, as he appears to the public.)

Remulla added that Marcoleta was arrested to be put on trial and not be humiliated, adding that the senator still has rights.

Marcoleta’s mug shots will be released to the public, according to Remulla. —AOL, GMA News