MANILA – The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said it is prepared to alert the Sandiganbayan if it encounters Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and three other individuals attempting to leave the country following a court-issued precautionary hold departure order (PHDO).

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the agency has already secured a copy of the court resolution and is ready to coordinate with the issuing authority if the subjects are detected at any international port.

“We were able to secure a copy of the release of the Sandiganbayan,” Sandoval said in a Viber message on Wednesday.

“The BI is aware of this PHDO and will be able to verify it with the issuing authority if subjects are encountered at any international port,” she added.

Sandoval also noted that there has been no recent travel record for all four individuals covered by the order.

On Tuesday, the Sandiganbayan granted the Office of the Ombudsman’s request to issue a PHDO against Marcoleta, former congressman Michael Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.

The order was issued after the four were charged with plunder, indirect bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, a law prohibiting gift-giving to public officials.