The Sandiganbayan has issued another arrest warrant against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor over alleged violations of the anti-gift law, adding to the growing legal cases they face following separate plunder charges linked to undisclosed campaign donations.
MANILA, Philippines — The legal troubles confronting Senator Rodante Marcoleta deepened on Wednesday after another division of the Sandiganbayan issued fresh warrants of arrest against him and former congressman Mike Defensor, this time over allegations that they violated the law prohibiting public officials from receiving gifts.
In a ruling dated July 8, the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division ordered the arrest of Marcoleta and Defensor for the bailable offense of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, a law that strictly bars government officials and employees from accepting gifts, favors, or other valuable considerations in connection with their public duties. The anti-graft court also issued hold departure orders against both accused to prevent them from leaving the country while the criminal proceedings are ongoing.
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The Fourth Division, chaired by Associate Justice Frederick Musngi, fixed the bail for each accused at P30,000, allowing provisional liberty should they comply with the court’s bail requirements.
The latest development comes just days after the Sandiganbayan Third Division issued separate warrants of arrest against Marcoleta, Defensor, and two other co-accused in a non-bailable plunder case stemming from alleged irregular campaign donations. That earlier case carries significantly heavier penalties because plunder is considered one of the gravest offenses under Philippine law.
Defensor remains detained at the Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory following his arrest in connection with the plunder charges. Marcoleta, meanwhile, continues to be under the custody of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), where authorities are maintaining custody while he undergoes medical evaluation.
Recognizing Marcoleta’s present confinement, the Fourth Division instructed the court sheriff to serve the new warrant of arrest at his current place of detention. The court also directed the CIDG to continue holding the senator pending further orders from the Sandiganbayan as the proceedings move forward.
The senator’s health has also become a matter of public attention. According to the Philippine National Police, Marcoleta was admitted to the PNP General Hospital after reportedly suffering chest pain, pain in the nape, and persistent ringing in his right ear. Police officials disclosed that the senator has been managing long-standing medical conditions for more than a decade and has been regularly taking prescribed maintenance medication.
Initial medical findings showed that Marcoleta remained conscious, alert, and was not experiencing cardiorespiratory distress at the time of admission. However, physicians admitted him for further diagnostic procedures and laboratory examinations, with the results still pending as of Wednesday.
As multiple criminal cases continue to emerge, another Sandiganbayan division has also moved to streamline the judicial process. The Sixth Division has formally requested that the gift prohibition case assigned to it be consolidated with the plunder case pending before the Third Division.
Associate Justice Sarah Jane Fernandez, who chairs the Sixth Division, explained that the alleged violation of the anti-gift law appears to form part of the same factual circumstances surrounding the plunder allegations. She noted that combining the cases before a single division could help accelerate the proceedings, avoid conflicting rulings, and promote judicial efficiency while serving the interests of justice. The proposal, however, still requires the approval of the Third Division before consolidation can proceed.
Apart from these cases, another criminal complaint involving alleged receipt of prohibited gifts has been raffled to the Sandiganbayan First Division. That separate case names Marcoleta together with businessman Aristotle Baluyut Viray as respondents, adding another layer to the senator’s growing legal challenges.
The criminal charges stem from complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman on July 3, following its investigation into campaign contributions allegedly received by Marcoleta. Prosecutors claimed that the senator failed to disclose P75 million in campaign donations received in 2025 from Defensor, businessman Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Viray.
Although the donations were allegedly made before the official campaign period, investigators pointed out that Marcoleta was still serving as a sitting member of the House of Representatives when the transactions occurred. Under existing laws, public officials are prohibited from receiving gifts connected with their office, and prosecutors argue that the alleged donations formed part of the basis for the criminal complaints.
The Ombudsman also alleged that the total amount involved exceeded the P50 million threshold required for the offense of plunder, prompting prosecutors to file the more serious non-bailable charge alongside multiple violations of the anti-graft law.
With several divisions of the Sandiganbayan now simultaneously handling related criminal complaints, Marcoleta and his co-accused face a series of legal battles that could shape one of the most closely watched anti-corruption cases in recent years. The outcome of the pending motions for consolidation and the forthcoming court proceedings is expected to determine how the various charges will be tried as the judiciary continues to examine the allegations./ RAPPLER JSA Aptikons
APTIKONS