Mike Defensor arrested for plunder

MANILA, Philippines — Former AnaKalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday for plunder.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla announced that aside from the congressman, police have also arrested businessman Joseph Espiritu.

Defensor and Espiritu, both nabbed in Quezon City, are co-accused with Senator Rodante Marcoleta in a non-bailable plunder case involving the alleged non-disclosure of P75 million in campaign donations during the last elections.

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READ: P75-M plunder case filed vs Marcoleta, 3 ‘friends’

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In a briefing, Remulla said Defensor and Espiritu were arrested while they were having coffee at a Starbucks branch in Quezon City.

He added that the two are already being transported to the Sandiganbayan.

The plunder case against Defensor was filed by the Office of the Ombudsman at the Sandiganbayan and raffled to the latter’s Third Division on Friday morning.

READ: Mike Defensor ‘no-show’ at NBI, calls subpoena ‘harassment’

The case stemmed from a P75-million donation Defensor made with donors Aristotle Viray and Espiritu to Marcoleta when the latter was a congressman before his 2025 senatorial bid. (With a report from Jason Sigales) /mr/dp

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