Marcoleta's co-accused now detained at QC Jail Male Dormitory – BJMP

MANILA, Philippines — Businessman Aristotle Viray, one of the co-accused of Senator Rodante Marcoleta in the plunder charge filed by the Office of the Ombudsman, has been detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory (QCJMD), the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) said on Tuesday.

Viray was brought to the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday morning to return his arrest warrant.

He was arrested by authorities at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, or after the court hours.

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READ: Marcoleta’s co-accused brought to court before jail

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“Aristotle Viray received at QCJMD at 12:55 p.m. today,” BJMP spokesperson Supt. Jayrex Joseph Bustinera said in a Viber message to reporters.

Viray was among those arrested over a P75 million campaign donation received by Marcoleta for his senatorial bid in the 2025 midterm elections while he was a sitting party-list representative.

Among the co-accused is former lawmaker Mike Defensor and Joseph Espiritu.

Marcoleta, Defensor and Espiritu were also arrested and law enforcers were able to return their warrant to the court on Monday.

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READ: Marcoleta, 3 others arrested for plunder

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co said that Viray was brought to the facility of the PNP Health Service as he complained of elevated blood pressure.

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Co said that Viray stayed there overnight.

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

Last Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman said that the filing of the case was not a decision “made lightly or by choice.”

It noted the three cash donations made by Defensor, Espiritu and Viray, and the nondisclosure of Marcoleta’s statement of assets, liabilities and network (SALN) and campaign finance reports.

In November 2025, Marcoleta admitted in a television program that he did not declare campaign contributions upon the request of his contributors to remain anonymous.

In January 2025, Defensor, Viray and Espiritu allegedly donated P30 million, P25 million, and P20 million, for Marcoleta’s senatorial campaign.

Citing his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta said that the P75 million donation were not public funds.

The plunder complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman said that the amount he received exceeded the above P50 million threshold for plunder.

State prosecutors then noted that the amount was not reflected in his SALN as of June 30, 2025.

Marcoleta in his counter-affidavit then said: “The donations were likewise not reflected in my Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth because, by the time the SALNs were prepared and executed, the amounts had already been used for their intended election-related purposes, and were no longer assets held by me.” /apl

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