The Sandiganbayan Third Division has set separate hearings for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s preventive suspension on August 18 and his petition for bail on September 3 in his non-bailable plunder case.
Marcoleta, former Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray face plunder charges over an alleged undeclared P75-million campaign donation Marcoleta received while serving as a party-list representative.
Regarding the preventive suspension, Third Division Chairperson Associate Justice Karl Miranda directed prosecutors to comment on Marcoleta’s plea to withhold the order by Monday, noting it raised substantial matters.
“The court requires the prosecution to comment, but we have yet to receive a copy,” Miranda said.
All four accused have petitioned for bail. During pretrial, Marcoleta personally confirmed he would stipulate that he was a public official during the alleged offense.
“It will make the proceedings faster and simpler,”Miranda said following Marcoleta’s manifestation.
Outside the courtroom, a brief commotion occurred when jail personnel prevented Defensor from speaking to reporters.