Former Rep. Mike Defensor and his co-accused, businessman Joseph Espiritu, have jointly filed a petition seeking bail in their plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.
In their petition, Defensor and Espiritu asked the court to allow them to post bail and remain free while the case is being tried, according to a report by RH Val Gonzales.
Defensor and Espiritu are among those accused in the plunder case stemming from the alleged acceptance of P75 million in campaign donations by Senator Rodante Marcoleta when he was still an incumbent congressman.
Plunder is a non-bailable offense when the evidence of guilt is strong and carries a penalty of life imprisonment. Under the law, bail may be granted in a capital offense or one punishable by reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment if the court finds that the evidence of guilt is not strong.
They are currently detained at the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory along with Marcoleta and another co-accused, businessman Aristotle Viray.
Viray earlier filed his own motion for bail in the same case.
Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray have pleaded not guilty during their arraignment.
