Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta was transferred to the Quezon City Jail‑Male Dormitory on Wednesday after a court ordered his detention pending trial on a nonbailable plunder charge.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government confirmed the handover to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at 10:49 a.m., complying with the anti‑graft court’s commitment order.
Earlier that day, the Sandiganbayan Third Division arraigned Marcoleta with former Quezon City Representative Michael T. Defensor and businessmen Joseph V. Espiritu and Aristotle B. Viray on violations of Republic Act No. 7080, the Anti‑Plunder Act.
Marcoleta entered a not‑guilty plea to three counts of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which bars public officials from receiving gifts; the co‑accused also pleaded not guilty.
Following his July 6 arrest, Marcoleta was confined at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, where he was diagnosed with mild pneumonia, hypertension and degenerative disc disease.
The court directed an independent medical assessment at the University of the Philippines‑Philippine General Hospital. The hospital’s director later confirmed that hospitalization was no longer required, clearing the way for his transfer to custody.
Authorities allege that Marcoleta and his co‑accused amassed at least 75 million pesos in undeclared campaign contributions during the 2025 elections, omissions not reflected in their financial disclosure statements.
