Senator Rodante Marcoleta. (PNA photo by Robert Alfiler)
The Sandiganbayan on Thursday granted Sen. Rodante Marcoleta a one-day medical furlough as he remains detained while facing a plunder case involving Php 75 million he received ahead of his successful 2025 Senate bid.
Marcoleta’s lawyers sought permission for him to undergo a medical examination, telling the anti-graft court that the senator has stage two hypertension and an enlarged prostate. Sandiganbayan Third Division chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda approved the request during Thursday’s proceedings.
The medical furlough comes nearly two months after Marcoleta was arrested following the filing of the plunder case. He surrendered on July 6 after the Third Division rejected motions seeking to dismiss the charge and issued warrants against him and his co-accused.
The case centers on three transactions totaling Php 75 million that Marcoleta received in January 2025, when he was still serving as a SAGIP party-list representative and months before the official campaign period for that year’s elections.
Based on records cited in the case, former lawmaker Mike Defensor allegedly provided Php 30 million, businessman Joseph Varias Espiritu Php 25 million and businessman Aristotle Baluyut Viray Php 20 million. Prosecutors allege that the amounts were not reflected in Marcoleta’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures or Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Marcoleta has acknowledged receiving the money but has disputed the criminal allegations against him. The senator has argued that the funds were campaign contributions, while prosecutors contend that the circumstances surrounding the Php 75 million could fall within the scope of the Anti-Plunder Law.
The senator and his three co-accused have entered not guilty pleas. Marcoleta withdrew an earlier motion to quash the plunder charge before his July 22 arraignment, telling the court that he agreed to the move voluntarily.
Apart from plunder, Marcoleta was also charged with violations of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts under circumstances covered by the law. Those charges were raffled separately from the plunder case.
Marcoleta, Defensor, Espiritu and Viray have been detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas while proceedings continue.