CIDG: Marcoleta, family requested hospital visits by VP Sara, Robin Padilla

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and his family requested Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Robin Padilla to be allowed to visit him in the hospital, an official of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group has said.

Police Colonel John Guiagui, Regional Chief, PNP-CIDG National Capital Region, made the statement after the Sandiganbayan called out police officials for allowing Marcoleta to be visited even if it earlier recommended that Marcoleta be isolated due to pneumonia.

"Ito din 'yung request ni Senator Marcoleta and his family. So kung makikita n'yo si Senator Padilla and Vice President Duterte lang. Ang daming gustong pumunta but we are restricting it," Guiagui said.

Guiagui then said that they already turned down many requests to visit Marcoleta in the hospital.

But asked as to why the Vice President and Padilla were not denied a visit, he said, "I cannot speak for that. It is the director of CIDG."

The Sandiganbayan ordered UP PGH Dr. Gerardo Legaspi or any medical professional that Legaspi will authorize to conduct a medical examination on Marcoleta after the justices learned about the visits by the Vice President and the senator.

“Your answers to the questions of the justices are very revealing,” Associate Justice Karl Miranda said of the PNP officials' take on Marcoleta's visitors.

Sandiganbayan Third Division Associate Justice Ronald Moreno on Friday questioned why Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Robin Padilla were allowed to visit detained Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who is being treated for pneumonia, a communicable disease.

Moreno asked Philippine National Police officials, who made a report on the senator’s health condition, why the Vice President and Padilla were able to visit Marcoleta even if Police Lieutenant Colonel Benaly Bayani, chief of PNP General Hospital's Internal Medicine Department, recommended isolation for Marcoleta.

Marcoleta is in detention for a P75-million plunder case over his undeclared campaign donations. He was ordered arrested last July 6.

“He has pneumonia. Why are we allowing him to be visited by several individuals? He is under your care,” Moreno said. –Llanesca T. Panti/NB, GMA News