Rodante Marcoleta complained of chest pain, high blood pressure following surrender — CIDG

Senator Rodante Marcoleta complained of chest pain and high blood pressure following his surrender to authorities on Monday, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said.

Marcoleta has been undergoing various medical examinations following his surrender earlier in the day at the Sandiganbayan amid the issuance of an arrest warrant for the P75-million plunder case filed against him.

“Nagreklamo si Senator Marcoleta ng chest pains, and mataas ‘yung BP (blood pressure) niya, that’s why dinala muna sa ospital,” CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II told reporters.

“After ng medical niya, whatever sabihin ng mga doktor ng PNP (Philippine National Police), we will transmit it also kay [Sandiganbayan],” Morico added.

(Senator Marcoleta complained of chest pains and his blood pressure was high, which is why he was brought to the hospital first. After his medical examination, whatever the PNP doctors advise, we will also transmit it to the Sandiganbayan.)

Morico did not cite Marcoleta's exact blood pressure, but he said, “150 something.”

Earlier, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said that the 72-year-old Marcoleta’s medical examinations will determine his fitness before he is committed to a jail facility.

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

“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.

(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.)

According to Morico, once Marcoleta is declared fit following his medical examination, they will proceed to return the warrant to the Sandiganbayan.

The CIDG chief said the graft court has yet to issue a commitment order for Marcoleta. However, Interior Secretary Remulla earlier mentioned that the senator is set to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas. — RSJ, GMA News