The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former congressman Mike Defensor, and two businessmen in connection with a plunder case involving the alleged nondisclosure of ₱75 million in campaign donations.

Third Division Chairperson Justice Karl Miranda confirmed the issuance of arrest warrants on Monday, two days after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the charges before the anti-graft court.

The court also issued a precautionary hold departure order against Marcoleta and his three co-accused to prevent them from leaving the country while the case is pending.

According to the court, the accused will be committed to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas upon arrest.

Miranda said the division found probable cause as early as Friday after reviewing the documents submitted by prosecutors.

“Ni-review namin ang lahat ng dokumentong naisampa gabing gabi na noong Friday at hindi lang namin mailabas pa ang arrest warrant dahil weekend,” Miranda said.

The arrest order came after the Sandiganbayan denied motions filed by Marcoleta and Defensor seeking to quash the charges and defer the issuance of arrest warrants.

Earlier today, Marcoleta arrived at the Sandiganbayan for a scheduled hearing on the motions, which were filed before the Third Division on Friday.

In their filings, Marcoleta and Defensor argued that the charges lacked legal basis and urged the court to dismiss the plunder case outright. They also asked the court to hold off on issuing arrest warrants while the motions were under consideration.

The charges stem from complaints filed by the Office of the Ombudsman accusing the respondents of involvement in the alleged mishandling of a P75 million campaign donation during the 2025 elections.

Prosecutors alleged that Marcoleta failed to declare the amount in his campaign expenditure reports, a violation that forms the basis of the plunder case.