Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, ex-Rep. Michael Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu —Photos courtesy of PNP-CIDG
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Monday was taken to a hospital due to hypertension and chest pains, following his arrest for plunder as ordered by the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division.
Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chair, also ordered the arrest of former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray, in connection with the plunder case stemming from a P75-million donation to Marcoleta in 2025, when he was a party-list lawmaker eyeing a senatorial candidacy.
With his arrest, Marcoleta failed to attend the opening of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, where he would have served as one of the senator-judges.
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