The Sandiganbayan has served new arrest warrants on already-detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former Quezon City Rep. Michael Defensor over an alleged violation of a presidential decree banning gifts to public officials.
Col. John Guiagui, chief of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region (PNP-CIDG-NCR), said the warrant against Marcoleta was served by the anti-graft court’s sheriff on Thursday.
The warrant against Defensor was served Wednesday at the Quezon City Jail, where he has been detained since Monday, according to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The arrest warrants were issued by the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division for alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts and private individuals from giving gifts to government personnel. Bail was set at P30,000 for each accused.
The case stemmed from the alleged P30-million campaign donation Defensor gave to Marcoleta before the 2022 elections, when Marcoleta was still serving as a party-list representative.
Marcoleta, Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray were arrested Monday in connection with a separate P75-million plunder case, a non-bailable offense pending before the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
Marcoleta has been confined at the PNP General Hospital since his arrest after complaining of chest pain. Authorities said he was found to have elevated blood pressure and mild pneumonia.
Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray were committed to the Quezon City Jail.
“It was already served by the sheriff of Sandiganbayan today,” Guiagui said, referring to the warrant against Marcoleta, who remains under the guard of CIDG personnel at the PNP General Hospital.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division earlier ordered the PNP to submit a report on Marcoleta’s booking process, custody status, and latest medical records.
“We submitted it yesterday. Upon receiving directive from Sandiganbayan, we immediately presented to them his condition and who are guarding him. Again, it is the CIDG,” Guiagui said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Robinhood Padilla visited Marcoleta at the PNP General Hospital after the PNP approved his request.
Padilla’s visit came two days after Vice President Sara Duterte also visited the 72-year-old senator at the hospital.