(UPDATE) MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested on Monday after the Sandiganbayan denied his motion to suspend proceedings on the plunder charges filed against him and three others.
Marcoleta arrived at the court's Third Division, which heard his motion after issuing a warrant of arrest.
The court found probable cause to try the senator, former lawmaker Mike Defensor, as well as Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.
He and his co-accused will be committed to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas.
The case was in connection with a P75 million election donation that Marcoleta allegedly accepted from the three.
Palace leaves fate of Marcoleta to the courts
Malacañang said it was leaving the fate of Marcoleta to the courts.
“If that is what the law states and that is the court's order, the president will respect it,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Claire Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing.
She likewise reacted to Defensor’s remarks that they were being targeted and arrested instead of those who are the so-called real thieves of public coffers.
“If they have evidence, they should present it and let the court decide,” Castro said.
Sandiganbayan justice urges public to trust judiciary
Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda urged the public to the trust the judiciary.
"To the general public, I just want to say this: Do not fear. Do not be anxious. Because the court, the judiciary, is here to provide a peaceful forum for the resolution of disputes inside the courtroom and not in the streets", he said in Filipino and English.
Miranda is the chairman of the Sandiganbayan Third Division which issued the arrest warrant.
"This court, the judiciary, is here to transform conflict into orderly legal processes...and, finally, to preserve social stability, not the division of our society", Miranda said.
"This is what I can guarantee: By finding the truth, the court will clear up things. It will resolve matters. Justice will follow for justice is the truth and the truth is justice", he said.
"I urge the public to trust the judiciary to do its duty. Trust the Sandiganbayan, the pillar of our nation", Miranda said.
"Most importantly, most importantly, trust the Supreme Court which is the final arbiter of all legal disputes. To the public, trust your Supreme Court," he said.
Miranda assured members of the public that they were heard and that the court would do its job.
"We see you, we hear you, we understand you...The Court will do its duty and render justice by acquitting the innocent and holding the guilty accountable. That is our duty", he said.