By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is ready to inform the Sandiganbayan in case it encounters Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and three others attempting departure in connection with the Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) issued by the court against these individuals.
“We were able to secure a copy of the release of the Sandiganbayan,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said in a Viber message Wednesday.
“The BI is aware of this PHDO and will be able to verify it with the issuing authority if subjects are encountered at any international port,” the BI official added.
At the same time, Sandoval said there is no recent travel recorded for all of them.
On Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan granted the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to issue a PHDO against Marcoleta, former congressman Michael Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.
The PHDO was filed after the four individuals were named in charges for plunder, indirect bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, a 1972 law prohibiting gift-giving to public officers. (PNA)
