Senator Rodante Marcoleta was brought to the New Quezon City Jail on Monday after the Sandiganbayan denied his last-minute motions and ordered his arrest in connection with a non-bailable plunder case involving an alleged P75-million campaign donation.
Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda announced the issuance of arrest warrants against Marcoleta, former AnaKalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu.
Marcoleta personally appeared before the anti-graft court earlier in the day to argue three pending motions, including pleas to suspend the proceedings and stop the implementation of the arrest warrant.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division denied all the motions, clearing the way for authorities to immediately take the senator into custody.
After the ruling, Marcoleta remained inside the Sandiganbayan complex and returned to the Third Division courtroom for the formal return of the warrant before he was turned over to police.
In a brief statement to reporters, Marcoleta said he would respect the court’s decision and face the charges through the proper legal process.
He was later escorted into a police coaster and transported to the New Quezon City Jail’s male dormitory in Barangay Payatas, where he will remain while the plunder case proceeds.
The detention facility had previously held several high-profile political figures, including Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., during their respective plunder trials.
As the police vehicle left the Sandiganbayan, Marcoleta waved and blew a goodbye kiss to supporters gathered outside, who responded with cheers and words of encouragement.
Meanwhile, Defensor and Espiritu were also arrested Monday by operatives of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group–National Capital Region.
The two were apprehended while having coffee at a coffee shop along Timog Avenue in Quezon City.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Defensor and Espiritu were immediately brought to the Sandiganbayan after their arrest.
The plunder case against Defensor was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman before the Sandiganbayan and was raffled to the anti-graft court’s Third Division on Friday.
The case stemmed from the alleged P75-million campaign donation made by Defensor, Viray, and Espiritu to Marcoleta when he was still a congressman before his 2025 Senate bid.
Authorities are continuing their manhunt for Viray, who remains at large.
The arrests unfolded on the same day the Senate impeachment court opened the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, prompting Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to warn against any attempt to drag the military into the political proceedings.
In an ambush interview, Teodoro dismissed efforts by some individuals to persuade soldiers to interfere in the impeachment trial.
“We no longer need to remind our soldiers… Our soldiers already know their constitutional duty. We will no longer remind them because that’s already part of their psyche,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro warned those allegedly urging soldiers to intervene in the impeachment proceedings that their actions were illegal and would not succeed.
“Our message to those who are encouraging our soldiers is that you will get nowhere,” Teodoro said.
“Your plan is evil, your plan is against the law, and no one will listen to you,” he added.