Manila, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has granted the application of the Office of the Ombudsman for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Senator Rodante Marcoleta, former Congressman Mike Defensor, and two other individuals.
This is in connection to the plunder and indirect bribery allegations against the four respondents over the alleged P75 million campaign donation Marcoleta received.
Based on the Ombudsman’s petition, it added that the respondents also violated the Presidential Decree No. 46 prohibiting public officials and employees from receiving gifts from private individuals.
The Commission on Elections earlier conducted an investigation on the P75 million campaign donation Marcoleta received in 2022.
This is over Marcoleta’s alleged failure to declare the said campaign donation to his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.
In his defense, Marcoleta argued that he did not declare the said donation as he was not a candidate yet by the time he received the donation.
On Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division heard the petition, which was later approved—formally issuing a PHDO against Marcoleta, Defesnor, and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu.
A PHDO is a written court order directing the Bureau of Immigration to prevent any attempt of individuals alleged of crimes punishable by six years from leaving the country.
The anti-graft court however clarified that this order is to bar accused individuals that may attempt to leave the country, but does not equate to their guilt.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News