Former Anakalusugan representative Mike Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu were arrested on Monday, July 6, 2026, in connection with a plunder charge involving P75 million in campaign donations. They are co-respondents of Senator Rodante Marcoleta in the case.
Arrest Details
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that Defensor and Espiritu were apprehended at a coffee shop in Quezon City just hours after Marcoleta was taken into custody earlier that day. The two were brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) office in Camp Crame, Quezon City, for booking procedures. Marcoleta is also undergoing pre-detention procedures at the same facility.
Defensor and Espiritu will be transferred to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas, as ordered by the Sandiganbayan third division. Marcoleta, aged 72, will first be taken to the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital for a medical examination.
Medical Examination for Marcoleta
Remulla explained that Marcoleta requires more than basic health checks due to his age. “He is now undergoing medical procedures. Senator Marcoleta is already 72 years old. It's not enough to simply check his blood pressure and heart rate. He still has to undergo several tests, including an ECG and others, to ensure he is medically fit,” Remulla said. He added that the examinations are expected to be completed within two days, after which a full medical report will be submitted to the Sandiganbayan to determine if Marcoleta can be committed as a Person Deprived of Liberty (PDL) at the Quezon City Jail in Payatas.
Remulla also addressed concerns about Marcoleta’s mugshot, stating, “His mugshot will be released shortly, as there are still several procedures that need to be completed. I must remind everyone that we are not here to humiliate anyone. Whatever the condition of his hair may be, we will not subject him to humiliation. His picture will be taken as he appears in public. We are here to arrest him and have him tried but not to humiliate him. He still has his rights.”
Marcoleta and Defensor Respond
Following his arrest, Marcoleta stated that he respects the rule of law and the court processes. Defensor, in a social media post, said that despite the charges aimed at silencing them, the fight against government corruption will continue. “We who are fighting corruption are the ones who were even the first to be imprisoned in a case that has no basis. With our detention, we will no longer be able to speak out against corruption, when all we want is for the truth, transparency, accountability, and justice to come out. We were jailed ahead of those who truly stole from the public coffers. You may imprison us and silence us, but we will not give up,” Defensor said.
Background of the Case
The plunder charge stems from Marcoleta’s public acknowledgment that he received P30 million from Defensor, P25 million from Espiritu, and P20 million from businessman Aristotle Viray as campaign donations. Marcoleta maintains the donations were lawful and that the charges are politically motivated. The Office of the Ombudsman charged Marcoleta, Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray with one count of plunder each and for violating Presidential Decree 46, which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts in connection with their office.
