Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday confirmed the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former Rep. Mike Defensor, and businessman Joseph Espiritu in connection with plunder charges filed before the Sandiganbayan, while a fourth co-accused remains the subject of a police manhunt.
Remulla said Marcoleta both surrendered and was effectively arrested after proceedings at the anti-graft court in the morning.
He said the senator went to the Sandiganbayan at around 8:30 a.m. to file a motion to quash the warrant issued against him.
“When his motion to quash was denied, Sandiganbayan was locked down and he was not allowed to go out,” Remulla said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.
He added that police units and senior officials later moved in to implement the arrest warrant.
“Subsequently, when it (motion) was denied, we closed down the building and the arresting team arrived. So it was both,” Remulla said, referring to both surrender and arrest procedures.
Remulla said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II later arrived at the Sandiganbayan to escort Marcoleta to Camp Crame.
The Interior chief said Marcoleta underwent standard booking procedures, including mug shots and a medical examination.
He noted that additional tests were conducted due to the senator’s age, including an electrocardiogram.
Remulla said the medical evaluation may take time before completion.
Meanwhile, Defensor and Espiritu were arrested in a coffee shop in Quezon City a few hours after the issuance of the arrest warrants, authorities said.
Both were later brought to the Sandiganbayan for the return of warrant before being transferred to Camp Crame for booking procedures.
Remulla said the accused will be detained at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas following processing.
A fourth accused, identified as Aristotle Viray, remains at large and is being tracked by police units in Metro Manila and other areas.
PNP chief Nartatez said authorities have already launched a manhunt operation and urged Viray to surrender.
“It’s actually better to surrender, to surrender to the nearest police station or even here at Camp Crame,” Nartatez said.
He added that tracker teams have been deployed to known addresses of the accused in Metro Manila and the provinces as operations
Photo courtesy of DILG
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