MANILA, Philippines — Humiling sa Sandiganbayan ng piyansa sina dating Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor at negosyanteng si Joseph Espiritu kaugnay ng ₱75-milyong plunder case na nag-ugat sa umano’y hindi idineklarang mga donasyon kay dating Sagip party-list representative at 2025 senatorial candidate Rodante Marcoleta.
Sa kanilang petisyong may petsang Hulyo 28, iginiit nina Defensor at Espiritu na bigong magpakita ang prosekusyon ng matibay na ebidensiya laban sa kanila.
“The rationale is that, if evidence of guilt is strong, the accused has a greater incentive to flee. On the other hand, if the evidence of guilt is not strong, there is little risk of flight, and the accused is entitled to bail as a matter of right. Here, there has been no showing that the evidence against either accused Defensor or Espiritu is strong,” nakasaad sa kanilang petisyon.
Ayon din sa kanila, ang arrest warrants na inilabas noong Hulyo 6 ay nakabatay lamang sa probable cause, na mas mababang pamantayan kumpara sa strong evidence na kinakailangan sa pagdinig sa piyansa.
“Consistent with the presumption of innocence enjoyed by the accused, the prosecution bears the burden of proving that evidence of guilt is strong. The Supreme Court has equated “strong” evidence with “proof evident,” “evident proof,” and “presumption great,” Here, the evidence does not meet the standard of “proof evident,” “evident proof,” or “presumption great,” nakasaad sa kanilang mosyon.
Itinanggi ni Defensor na may matibay na ebidensiyang nagbigay siya kay Marcoleta ng ₱30 milyon dahil sa posisyon nito sa gobyerno. Ganito rin ang argumento ni Espiritu kaugnay ng umano’y ₱25-milyong donasyon.
“There is no strong evidence that accused Defensor gave a donation of P30 million to accused Marcoleta “by reason of” his (Marcoleta’s) “office or position. [And] there is no strong evidence that accused Espiritu gave a donation of P25 million to accused Marcoleta “by reason of” his “office or position,” ayon sa kanila.
Itinanggi rin nila na nakipagsabwatan sila kina Marcoleta at kapwa akusadong si Aristotle Viray upang makalikom si Marcoleta ng umano’y ₱75 milyong ill-gotten wealth.
Ayon sa Office of the Ombudsman, tumanggap umano si Marcoleta ng ₱30 milyon mula kay Defensor noong Enero 6, 2025, ₱25 milyon mula kay Espiritu noong Enero 8, at ₱20 milyon mula kay Viray noong Enero 9.
Nakakulong sina Marcoleta, Defensor, Espiritu, at Viray sa New Quezon City Jail sa Payatas. Santi Celario
