Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Monday confirmed the arrests of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former Rep. Mike Defensor and businessman Joseph Espiritu after the Sandiganbayan issued warrants of arrest against them in a plunder case.

Remulla said Marcoleta voluntarily went to the Sandiganbayan to file a motion to quash the warrant but was placed under arrest after the anti-graft court denied his motion.

"Was he arrested or did he surrender? It was both," Remulla told reporters during a press briefing at Camp Crame.

He said Marcoleta arrived at the Sandiganbayan at around 8:30 a.m. to file his motion.

"When his motion to quash was denied, the Sandiganbayan was locked down and he was not allowed to leave. Subsequently, when it was denied, we closed down the building and the arresting team arrived. So it was both," Remulla said.

He added that PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Maj. Gen. Robert Morico II arrived at the Sandiganbayan at about 9:30 a.m. to escort Marcoleta to Camp Crame.

The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the warrant in connection with a plunder case involving the alleged receipt of P75 million in campaign donations when Marcoleta was a representative of the Sagip Party-list.

The case stemmed from Marcoleta's admission on his television program that he received P75 million from three donors to support his senatorial campaign during the 2025 elections.

Although a complaint had earlier been filed before the Commission on Elections for his failure to declare the amount in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), Marcoleta argued that the donation was made in January 2025, before the official campaign period, and therefore did not constitute an election offense.

Remulla said Marcoleta underwent standard booking procedures, including fingerprinting, mug shots and a medical examination.

He said the medical evaluation could take time because the 72-year-old senator needed additional tests, including an electrocardiogram.

"We do not know when it will be completed, but hopefully within the next two days the examination will be completed. Do not rush us. Give us time to determine the full picture of his health," Remulla said.

The Interior chief also stressed that authorities would respect Marcoleta's rights during the booking process.

"I must remind everyone that we are not here to humiliate anyone. His picture will be taken as he appears in public. We are here to arrest him and have him tried, but not to humiliate him. He still has his rights," he said.

During the same briefing, Remulla also confirmed the arrests of Defensor and Espiritu at a coffee shop in Quezon City.

He said another accused, Aristotle Viray, remains the subject of police operations.

According to Remulla, the three co-accused were among those who allegedly donated the P75 million to Marcoleta.

Defensor and Espiritu were brought to the Sandiganbayan for the return of the warrants before being transferred to Camp Crame for booking.

"After the processing, they will be brought to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas for their detention," Remulla said.

For his part, Nartatez said police tracker teams have been deployed to locate Viray at his known addresses in Metro Manila and the provinces.

"It's actually better to surrender, to surrender to the nearest police station or even here at Camp Crame," Nartatez said.

"Our teams are already on the way to implement the warrants at the known addresses of those personalities. They have addresses here in Metro Manila as well as in the provinces," he added.