Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson scored on Saturday what he noted as a recurring pattern of hospitalization involving prominent personalities who are cited in contempt of the Senate, or are facing arrest for criminal cases.
Lacson said this was again the case when former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who both face plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan, were confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP-GH).
“Since time immemorial, when a prominent personality is cited in contempt or faces arrest, he/she suddenly gets sick and needs to be hospitalized. Bonoan was arrested and was confined in the hospital. Before that, we have seen big personalities who are confined in the hospital instead of being brought to jail. This is the pattern I have noticed,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZMM radio.
“This is the pattern that many ordinary Filipinos have brought to my attention, hence my recent post on X last July 8,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Pinuna ang Pattern ng Pagkaospital ng mga Personalidad na Nahaharap sa Pag-aresto
Last Wednesday, Lacson posted on X: “WARNING: Bawal magkasakit. Mahal ang gamot. Bawal magka-‘warrant’. Baka magkasakit.”
WARNING:
Bawal magkasakit. Mahal ang gamot.
Bawal magka-‘warrant’. Baka magkasakit.— PING LACSON (@iampinglacson) July 8, 2026
“When the arrest warrant comes out, so does the medical condition – you name it – pneumonia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels. Some require neck braces, others have back pains. The diseases come out when the arrest warrant comes out,” he added.
Also, Lacson raised the question of who will foot the bill for the stay of Bonoan and Marcoleta at the PNP-GH, where both are being “confined” while facing charges before the Sandiganbayan.
He pointed out that the PNP-GH is primarily intended for PNP personnel and their dependents, some of whom have reportedly been denied admission despite being entitled to its services.
Lacson, who served as PNP chief from 1999 to 2001, said he intends to raise the issue during the deliberations on the proposed 2027 budgets of the PNP and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“One issue is that the PNP-GH has its own budget, funded by taxpayers. Those authorized to be confined there are PNP members or their dependents. But who shoulders the costs for the stay and medication of Bonoan and Marcoleta? As far as I know, neither of them are PNP dependents,” he said.
“There are PNP members who are denied admission at the PNP-GH. There are also times when its facilities admit those who are not PNP members or dependents. Who pays for their stay?” he added.
Lacson also pointed out that the late former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile was also confined at the PNP-GH when he faced charges related to the Napoles pork barrel scam in the 2010s – but at least Enrile had served as defense secretary, and the PNP was once part of the defense establishment when it was still the Philippine Constabulary.
He said he intends to seek clarification from the PNP and DILG once deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget begin
“I intend to raise this when the budget deliberations for the PNP and DILG for 2027 starts. I will ask, who are authorized to be confined there and who shoulders the expenses for the PNP-GH when non-dependents are confined there?” he said.
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Lacson, Pinuna ang Pattern ng Pagkaospital ng mga Personalidad na Nahaharap sa Pag-aresto
Pinuna ni Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Sabado ang aniya’y paulit-ulit na pattern ng pagkaospital ng mga kilalang personalidad na pinapatawan ng contempt ng Senado o nahaharap sa pag-aresto dahil sa mga kasong kriminal.
Ani Lacson, muli itong nakita sa kaso nina dating Public Works Sec. Manuel Bonoan at Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, na kapwa nahaharap sa mga kasong plunder at graft sa Sandiganbayan at naka-confine sa Philippine National Police General Hospital (PNP-GH).
“Since time immemorial, ganyan lagi nangyayari pag may pina-contempt kami sa Senado ang bagsak lagi sa ospital. Kapag meron naaresto ang bagsak sa hospital, naglalabasan ang sakit once na lumalabas ang warrant. Si Sec. Bonoan nung na-arresto, deretso sa hospital, ang nakaraan ding mga pangyayari nakakakita tayo na kapag ang tao hindi pangkaraniwan, sa halip na sa pangkaraniwang kulungan napipiit ang takbo sa hospital. So parang nasabi ko lang na parang nagiging pattern,” aniya sa panayam sa DZMM radio.
“This is the pattern that many ordinary Filipinos have brought to my attention, hence my recent post on X last July 8,” dagdag niya.
Nitong Miyerkules ng gabi, nagpost si Lacson sa X ng: “WARNING: Bawal magkasakit. Mahal ang gamot. Bawal magka-‘warrant’. Baka magkasakit.”
“May pulmonya, may mataas ang blood pressure, mataas ang cholesterol, kung ano-ano masakit. Nagkakaroon ng brace sa leeg, tapos masakit ang likod. Ang sakit naglalabasan. Parang kasabay ng paglabas ng arrest warrant, lumalabas ang sakit,” aniya.
Kasabay nito, nagtanong din si Lacson kung sino ang sasagot sa gastusin sa pananatili nina Bonoan at Marcoleta sa PNP-GH, kung saan kapwa sila naka-“confine” habang nahaharap sa mga kaso sa Sandiganbayan.
Giit niya, ang PNP-GH ay pangunahing inilaan para sa mga miyembro ng PNP at kanilang mga dependent, na ang ilan ay napaulat na hindi natatanggap sa ospital sa kabila ng pagiging kuwalipikado sa mga serbisyo nito.
Diin ni Lacson, na nagsilbing Chief PNP mula 1999 hanggang 2001, na balak niyang ihain ang isyung ito sa pagtalakay sa panukalang 2027 budget ng PNP at Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Isang issue diyan, ang PNP-GH may sariling pondo. Ang authorized diyan ma-confine, ang pagkaalam ko kasi dating Chief PNP ako, mismong member ng PNP o dependent. Pero sino ang magsho-shoulder ng gamot at ward o ng kwarto (ni Bonoan at Marcoleta)? Ang pagkaalam ko, hindi naman dependent si Bonoan, hindi dependent ng PNP si Sen. Marcoleta,” aniya.
“At may PNP member na nade-deny ng space sa PNP-GH. Minsan din nabibigyan ng kwarto pero bakit ang hindi dependent nandoon, sino gumastos doon?” dagdag niya.
Tinukoy rin ni Lacson na ang yumaong dating Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile ay na-confine rin noon sa PNP-GH habang nahaharap sa mga kasong may kaugnayan sa Napoles pork barrel scam noong dekada 2010. Gayunman, sinabi niyang nagsilbi si Enrile bilang kalihim ng tanggulang pambansa, at dating bahagi ng defense establishment ang PNP noong ito ay Philippine Constabulary pa.
Sinabi niyang balak niyang humingi ng paglilinaw mula sa PNP at DILG sa sandaling magsimula ang pagtalakay sa panukalang pambansang budget para sa 2027.
“Gusto kong i-raise ito pag nagkaroon ng budget deliberation for 2027 ng DILG at PNP. Itatanong ko ito. Sino authorized lang na ma confine at sino nag-shoulder ng expenses sa PNP-GH pag di dependent ng PNP naka-confine?” aniya.
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