Courtesy: Senate of the Philippines fp page
THE Office of the Ombudsman has formally requested the Sandiganbayan to issue a precautionary hold departure order against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and three other individuals facing complaints of plunder, indirect bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46.
The anti-graft body filed a verified ex parte application on Monday, seeking to restrict the travel movements of the respondents to ensure their availability during the proceedings. This legal step comes as the investigation into the alleged anomalous transactions involving the senator and his co‑respondents moves forward.
Aside from Marcoleta, the petition also names former Quezon City Representative Mike Defensor, Aristotle Viray, and Joseph Espiritu as subjects of the proposed travel ban.
All four were earlier recommended for indictment by the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau over allegations linked to the receipt and acceptance of substantial amounts of money, which investigators classified as corrupt acts rather than legitimate contributions or gifts. The anti-graft body emphasized that the issuance of the hold departure order is necessary to prevent any of the respondents from leaving the country and evading accountability.
A precautionary hold departure order is a legal measure intended merely to restrict travel and guarantee the presence of respondents during preliminary investigations and trial stages; it does not constitute a judgment of guilt.
By filing the application ex parte, the Ombudsman sought the court’s resolution without requiring the presence or immediate response of the opposing party, citing urgency and the risk that the respondents might flee or become unreachable. The Sandiganbayan is expected to evaluate the merits of the request and decide whether to grant the order as part of the ongoing proceedings.
