MANILA—The Sandiganbayan Third Division has granted Sen. Rodante Marcoleta a one-day medical furlough for a medical examination at The Medical City in Pasig City on Sept. 7.

Third Division Chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda granted Marcoleta’s request despite opposition from government prosecutors, who questioned the basis of the lawmaker’s medical diagnosis.

Marcoleta was earlier diagnosed with prostate enlargement, stage 2 hypertension and dyslipidemia.

He is currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas and faces a P75 million plunder charge over allegedly undeclared election donations during the 2025 election period.

Prosecutors had opposed the medical furlough, arguing that the diagnoses were based on an examination by Marcoleta’s personal physician rather than doctors from the jail where he is detained.

The anti-graft court, however, allowed the one-day furlough for the scheduled medical examination.

Marcoleta is facing the non-bailable offense of plunder, which means he must first secure the court’s approval of his petition for bail before he can be temporarily released from detention.

The Sandiganbayan also began hearing his motion for bail on Thursday.

The prosecution’s first witness was Atty. Victoria Kadeja Besinio of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Political Finance and Affairs Department.

Marcoleta and his three co-accused—former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viral—had pleaded not guilty during their arraignment.

The case stems from allegations involving P75 million worth of undeclared election donations during the 2025 election period.