By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — An Ombudsman investigator told the court that authorities found no evidence that the three businessmen accused of giving Sen. Rodante Marcoleta a combined P75 million had ever met or communicated with each other.
Maria Melinda Mananghaya-Henson, director of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau, made the admission during the September 14 bail hearing for Marcoleta and businessmen Mike Defensor, Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.
Questioned by Viray’s lawyer, Chris Ocampo, Henson said she had no information showing that the three businessmen had ever met.
She also failed to identify any evidence establishing that they had communicated with one another.
The only circumstance she could point to was that the three deeds of donation were notarized and subscribed on the same date and at the same location.
Henson likewise confirmed that Viray was not mentioned in a video of Marcoleta presented by the prosecution.
She further acknowledged that neither the video nor the Ombudsman’s fact-finding investigation described the P75 million as an “investment.”
The term, she said, was introduced by investigators.
The witness also disclosed that the three businessmen were not interviewed during the fact-finding investigation, which she described as confidential.
The case centers on three separate donations allegedly made in January 2025 in connection with Marcoleta’s possible senatorial candidacy.
Based on the notarized deeds, Defensor donated P30 million, Espiritu P25 million, and Viray P20 million, bringing the total to P75 million.
The prosecution has presented the transactions as part of its case against Marcoleta and the three businessmen.
During the bail hearing, however, the Ombudsman investigator acknowledged that she could not identify evidence establishing that the three donors had met or communicated with one another.
The prosecution continues to present evidence as the court hears the parties’ respective arguments in the case.
ia/xf
