Arrest warrant vs Marcoleta already served, Jonvic says
PNP starts operation vs Mike Defensor, 2 other co-accused in plunder case
(RODANTE MARCOLETA FACEBOOK PAGE)
The arrest warrant issued against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has already been served, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said.
The arrest warrant was served at the Sandiganbayan where Marcoleta went to with his lawyers on Monday morning to file a motion to quash the case of plunder leveled against him.
“He is already under arrest,” said Remulla.
The Third Division of the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant against Marcoleta for a case of plunder in connection with the P75 million he received when he was still the representative of Sagip Party-list.
The case stemmed from Marcoleta’s own admission in his television program that he received P75 million from three campaign donors for his senatorial bid during the 2025 midterm elections.
A case was filed against him before the Commission on Elections as he did not declare the amount to his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) but he was spared over his argument that it cannot be considered as an election offense since the money was given in January 2025, or a month before the election period starts.
That argument was used by the Office of Ombudsman as he received the money when he was still a congressman.
“He is at the Sandiganbayan. He has to be processed first,” said Remulla.
The process that Remulla is referring to is the booking procedures that include taking of mugshots and fingerprints, as well as medical check-up.
A ranking official of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), said Marcoleta will be processed inside the Sandiganbayan.
And since plunder is a non-bailable offense, Marcoleta is expected to be transferred to the New Quezon City Jail in Barangay Payatas where fellow Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former senator Bong Revilla are currently detained.
With Marcoleta already arrested, police will shift focus in arresting former congressman Mike Defensor, Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu, the three donors of P75 million.