MANILA, Philippines —   Sen. Rodante Marcoleta pleaded not guilty to the charge of plunder after his camp withdrew his motion to junk the case.

He entered the plea during a hearing at the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division yesterday.

Former congressman Michael Defensor also pleaded not guilty to violating Presidential Decree 46 before the anti-graft court’s Fourth Division. The charge stemmed from the P30 million he gave to Marcoleta ostensibly for the latter’s campaign for the Senate.

The court granted the request of Marcoleta’s lawyers to no longer pursue their motion to quash the information on the plunder charge and manifested that they consulted such decision with him.

Marcoleta confirmed he “voluntarily” arrived at the decision and “without forced intimidation,” according to the order read aloud by Sandiganbayan Third Division chairman Associate Justice Karl Miranda.

He and his co-accused Joseph Espiritu also entered their not guilty pleas for the case of violation of Presidential Decree 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts and private individuals from offering such.

Before the hearing was adjourned, Marcoleta’s camp asked the court to set on an earlier schedule the marking of evidence fixed from July 28 to 30 and the pre-trial on Aug. 10. They appealed for earlier schedules due to “humanitarian consideration” and for the “speedy disposition” of their cases.

Miranda declared both schedules were already the “earliest possible dates.”

The court has ordered both the prosecution and camps of Marcoleta and his three co-accused to appear in the marking of evidence from July 28 to 30 at 2 p.m. and in the pretrial on Aug. 10 at 8:30 am.

Defensor and Marcoleta “waived” their right to be informed about the cases against them, according to their lawyers.

Fourth Division chairman Associate Justice Michael Frederick Musngi scheduled the marking of evidence on Aug. 6 at 1:30 p.m. and the pretrial on Aug. 12.

Marcoleta, Espiritu, Defensor and fellow co-accused Aristotle Viray are currently held at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas district.