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Combination photo shows Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor.
Senate of the Philippines and Mike Defensor via Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor over the alleged unlawful receipt of gifts from public officials.
In an order dated July 8, the anti-graft court's Fourth Division issued arrest warrants for Marcoleta and Defensor, who are both already in custody after the Sandiganbayan's Third Division ordered their arrest on a non-bailable plunder charge.
The anti-graft court's Fourth Division set bail for the pair at P30,000 each.
The charge stems from an alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, following an independent review of a July 1, 2026, resolution by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Presidential Decree No. 46 makes it a criminal offense for public officials and employees to receive gifts, and for private individuals to give gifts, on any occasion.
However, because both individuals are already in government custody for a separate plunder case, the anti-graft court directed its sheriff to serve the new warrants at their current places of confinement.
Specifically, the warrant and a continued commitment order will be served on Defensor at the Quezon City Jail-Male Dormitory in Payatas, while Marcoleta's warrant and temporary commitment order will be served on the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, which currently has him in custody.
Both Defensor and Marcoleta were charged with plunder over the alleged undeclared donations amounting to P75 million for Marcoleta's campaign during the 2025 elections.
