The Sandiganbayan Third Division cancels the pretrial of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on August 10 because of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat. Dennis Pulma, the division’s clerk of court, says the session is called off due to weather conditions.
The Third Division handles Marcoleta’s plunder case together with his alleged co-accused, including his campaign donors, former Rep. Mike Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray. Prosecutors allege the charges relate to a P75 million campaign donation he received while he was a sitting party-list lawmaker. The prosecution’s position is that the donation was not declared in Marcoleta’s financial and campaign disclosures.
Both reports attribute the postponement to the same factor—habagat-related downpours—while reiterating the case’s basic allegations and the parties involved. No alternative scheduling details or revised court dates are provided in the available excerpts.
