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MANILA, Philippines — A dozen witnesses will testify against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and his co-accused during the trial proper of his plunder case before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Oct. 8, government prosecutors said Friday.
Marcoleta, his donor, former Rep. Mike Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray are facing plunder charges over the P75-million campaign donation that the senator received while he was a sitting party-list lawmaker. According to prosecutors, the donation was not declared in the senator’s financial and campaign disclosures.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the court to set the pretrial proceedings. These were terminated Friday after the anti-graft court finalized the schedule for their bail hearing and trial proper.
Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chairperson, asked the prosecution how many witnesses it intends to present for the bail hearing on Sept. 3.
