Marcoleta fit to travel; PNP quizzed on his visitors

DETAINED Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is now "fit to travel" and fit to appear before the Sandiganbayan to face charges of plunder and violating a presidential decree that prohibits him from accepting gifts.Marcoleta is currently confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNPGH) for chest pains and mild pneumonia after his arrest alongside former congressman Michael Defensor and two others.At the hearing at the Sandiganbayan's Third Division on Friday, Philippine National Police General Hospital Chief of Internal Medicine Belany Bayani said Marcoleta, despite his conditions, can appear before the court as long as he wears a face mask.Associate Justice Karl Miranda also ordered Bayani to submit a notarized report on his condition until he can attend the hearings.Meanwhile, Associate Justice Ronald Moreno questioned why Sen. Robin Padilla and Vice President Sara Duterte were allowed entry into the hospital to visit Marcoleta despite his condition.He described it as "bothersome" that Padilla and Duterte visited him despite the recommendation that he should be in isolation.Moreno noted that Marcoleta has sinus tachycardia, a condition where his heart beats faster than normal due to several factors, including an increase in blood pressure.PNP-CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) National Capital Region director Col. John Guiagui said that he cannot answer the question, as visitor access is the prerogative of the patient.In response, Guiagui said that the PNP General Hospital will tighten its rules on visitors.