Sandiganbayan awaits CIDG report as Marcoleta remains under police custody

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Wednesday morning remained under the custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) as the Sandiganbayan Third Division awaits a formal update from authorities on his case.

According to Atty. Dennis Pulma, clerk of court of the Sandiganbayan Third Division, the court has yet to take action pending the official report from the CIDG or the PNP regarding Marcoleta.

"As far as Senator Marcoleta [is concerned,] ang custody and'un sa CIDG. Parang ongoing pa 'yung medical exam niya sa requirement. So, until such time na 'yung CIDG or PNP, we'll inform the court kung anong update. Walang action from the court. We will only await sa magiging report ng CIDG," Pulma said.

(As far as Senator Marcoleta is concerned, CIDG has custody over him. His required medical exam is still ongoing. So, we'll inform the court about the update as soon as we get word from the CIDG or PNP. No action yet from the court. We will only await the results of the CIDG report.)

Pulma said the court also has no information yet on when Marcoleta will be brought to the Sandiganbayan for the return of the warrant and commitment order.

Marcoleta was arrested after the Sandiganbayan issued an arrest warrant in connection with a plunder case filed against him and his co-accused.

The case is related to the alleged P75 million in campaign contributions during the 2025 elections that were reportedly not declared in his SALN, according to the Ombudsman.

Also included in the case are former Anakalusugan representative Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.

As for Defensor and Espiritu, Pulma said their scheduled arraignment and pre-trial on Friday, July 10, have been cancelled due to pending motions.

"They are scheduled supposedly this Friday, July 10 arraignment and pre-trial. Considering that there are pending motions 'yung naka-schedule na July 10 na arraignment at pre-trial nila Espiritu and Defensor are cancelled (Considering that there are pending motions, the arraignment and pre-trial of Defensor and Espiritu scheduled on July 10 are cancelled)," Pulma said.

Pulma said the new date has yet to be scheduled.

Meanwhile, Viray has already been committed to the custody of the BJMP following his arrest on Monday. Pulma said Viray did not file a motion to quash, but he filed a motion for bail.

There is also no schedule yet stated in Viray's commitment order for his arraignment and pre-trial.

The Sandiganbayan is a special anti-graft court that handles cases involving public officials accused of graft, corruption, and other offenses. — VDV, GMA News