The Office of the Ombudsman has asked the Sandiganbayan to bar Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former congressman Mike Defensor and two others from leaving the country after they were indicted for plunder and related charges over a P75-million campaign donation.
Besides Marcoleta and Defensor, the ombudsman also asked the Sandiganbayan to restrain Aristotle Baluyut Viray and Joseph Varias Espiritu through a precautionary hold departure order. The ex parte application was assigned to the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division.
The ombudsman recommended charges for violation of Republic Act 7080 or plunder, Presidential Decree No. 46 which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts, and indirect bribery against Marcoleta. Investigators said the amount exceeded the P50 million threshold for plunder and was not declared in his SALN.
In a privilege speech, Marcoleta said he believes the Marcos administration can jail him to silence dissent. He stated, “they can imprison me, they can arrest me, but I tell them, they still will not win.” Defensor expressed confidence that they would be cleared.
