Late on the evening of Friday, July 3, after office hours closed, the Sandigan Bayan issued warrants of arrest for non bailable cases of Plunder, against Marcoleta, Defensor and two others. However, they kept all of us in suspense over the weekend by not revealing or even leaking the fact.
On Monday morning, July 6, Marcoleta went to the Sandiganbayan for the hearing on several of his motions. The latter dismissed and/or rejected all the motions. The coast was clear for Marcoleta’s arrest. By late morning, he had been arrested by the PNP CIDG, brought to PNP HQ at Camp Crame and booked. He was not and has not been brought to the BJMP QC Jail. Instead, he was brought to the PNP General Hospital.
Meanwhile, Defensor and one of his co accused were arrested in a QC coffee shop and brought to the QC City Jail in Payatas. The next day, Tuesday, July 14, 2026, the last co accused was arrested and jailed at the QC Jail.
At 2:00 pm, Monday, July 7, 2026, the Impeachment Trial unfolded. For three days, NBI Senior Agent, John Mark Calilung, in charge of the investigation of Vice President Sarah Zimmerman Duterte Carpio was presented and cross examined on the witness stand. In my opinion, he was a very professional, qualified and credible witness.
The private counsel for the prosecutors, Atty. Amando Ligutan, did much better than the defense lawyers, including Atty. Mark Vinluan. Although, the Senator judges are supposed to be impartial, based on whether they belong to the Gatchalian Majority or Sarah Minority, the former performed better whether in questioning or manifesting than the latter.
At the present stage of the trial, the big advantage of the prosecution is that they are unfolding the story. The Defense appears to be merely engaged in technicalities and delays.
Meanwhile the Duterte Forces, the INC and Marcoleta supporters were not able to mobilize any decent rally after folding up on Thursday, July 2, after completing two days at PPM and one at LB. INC TV and radio continued its propaganda for Marcoleta and Sara. My impression is that they tried to be as subtle as they could.
Over the two decades of the first Marcos Regime, the INC got used to be on the side of the Incumbent Administration. They are used to what we call “sipsip”. They thrive on favors from the government and are afraid of losing their share of the spoils.
The Majority Roman Catholic Church may have practiced “Critical Collaboration” at times; however, it is quite capable of being more critical of the Administration. At least twice, it has gone for broke against the incumbent President, resulting in EDSA I and EDSA II. For the time being, while Sara is the Vice President, the following important components of a successful People Power Revolution, will not move against the incumbent at the level of Regime Change: the Roman Catholic Church, the Yellow, Pink and White political Forces.
If you want to see and/or participate in another People Power Revolution, relax, watch the Senate Impeachment Trial for six months first. After that, let us meet and talk again!