Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Michael Defensor pleaded not guilty to their respective cases at the Sandiganbayan.
Marcoleta entered his not guilty plea on the plunder charge at the Third Division yesterday. His camp withdrew the motion to quash the case and he confirmed the decision was voluntary.
Defensor pleaded not guilty to violating Presidential Decree 46 at the Fourth Division. The charge relates to the P30 million he gave to Marcoleta for the Senate campaign.
Co-accused Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray are also involved. All four are detained at the New Quezon City Jail. The court set dates for evidence marking and pretrial in July and August.
