Immigration receives travel ban order vs Marcoleta, Defensor, others

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MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has already received the precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and two others.

In a message to reporters on Wednesday, May 27, Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the bureau has already received the PHDO from the Sandiganbayan.

“The BI is aware of this PHDO and will be able to verify it with the issuing authority if subjects are encountered at any international port,” Sandoval said.

She added that Marcoleta, Defensor and the two others have no recorded recent travel.

This means that Marcoleta, Defensor and the two other respondents in the Ombudsman’s findings of alleged plunder and indirect bribery involving campaign donations worth P75 million are barred from leaving the country, and the BI will stop them at airports or other legal exit points if they attempt to leave.

A PHDO temporarily prevents a person under criminal investigation from leaving the Philippines while a case is still being evaluated, even before charges are filed in court.

The Sandiganbayan issued the PHDO on May 26. Aside from Defensor and Marcoleta, also included in the PHDO are Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray.

This stems from the Ombudsman’s findings of alleged plunder and indirect bribery involving campaign donations to Marcoleta worth P75 million.