Marcoleta’s co-accused brought to court before jail

MANILA, Philippines — A co-accused of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was brought to the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday morning after being cleared by the police hospital.

Aristotle Viray was arrested by authorities Monday night and was brought to the anti-graft court’s Third Division for his return of warrant.

The Third Division on Monday issued an arrest warrant for plunder against Marcoleta, Viray, and their co-accused former Rep. Mike Defensor and Joseph Espiritu, stemming from the P75-million campaign donations the senator received while being a sitting party-list lawmaker, which, according to state prosecutors, are not allowed under law while stressing that the amount was not even declared in the senator’s financial and campaign disclosures.

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READ: Sara Duterte visits Marcoleta at PNP General Hospital

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Marcoleta, Defensor, and Espiritu returned their warrant on Monday.

However, Viray was only arrested at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, or after the court hours.

Viray complained of elevated blood pressure so he was brought in the facility of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service, according to national police spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co.

“He stayed overnight because it was night already, and he will be brought a few minutes or a few hours from now for his commitment,” Co said in a phone interview to reporter before Viray was brought to Sandiganbayan.

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After his return of warrant, Co will be committed in the New Quezon City jail in Barangay Payatas, along with Defensor and Espiritu.

Marcoleta is still in the PNP General Hospital after complaining of chest pains and high blood pressure.

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