The Office of the Ombudsman sought a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and three of his campaign donors, according to a Tuesday report.

The PHDO follows plunder and indirect bribery charges against the senator over his failure to disclose an alleged ₱75 million in campaign donations for the 2025 National Elections.

The donations were reportedly from former Congressman Michael “Mike” Defensor, businessman Aristotle Viray, and Joseph Espiritu.

On Monday, Marcoleta questioned the timing of the charges and the PHDO request.

“The complaint arrived while the Senate is confronted with uncomfortable truths, namely, the pending continuation of the investigation of the anomalous flood control projects, the approaching Constitutional burden of an impeachment trial, and a growing pressure upon this institution to surrender its independence through political maneuvering disguised as Constitutional reform,” he said.

“The trumped-up charges filed against me and some of my friends are not merely legal accusations. They form part of a deeper and more nefarious design,” he added.

According to a report by RH 28 Raymund Dadpaas, the Sandiganbayan held a hearing on Tuesday regarding this request.