Photo from Inquirer

by Alexia Bangayan

On Friday, July 3, the Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and three others after an alleged non-disclosure of a P75 million campaign contribution.

At around 10 a.m., state prosecutors laid the complaint, which also included former AnaKalusugan Representative Mike Defensor and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu as co-accused.

“Today, we filed a plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan,” the Office of the Ombudsman said, adding that the decision was made with careful consideration.

The case was assigned to Sandiganbayan Third Division chair Associate Justice Karl Miranda, where the complaint will be examined whether there is sufficient evidence to issue arrest warrants to the accused.

Moreover, Marcoleta and the co-accused are also facing allegations of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials and private persons from giving and accepting gifts.

The case was filed after the conclusion of the Iglesia ni Cristo’s three-day rally along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), where thousands of supporters gathered to express opposition to the charges being prepared against Marcoleta.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla acknowledged the public discussion, stating, “We recognize this case has stirred intense public debate, and we respect every citizen’s right to an opinion, to rally, and to demand accountability, including from us.”

Meanwhile, the anti-grafy body stressed that the case was substantial, saying, “These facts are not in dispute; the senator has publicly confirmed receiving the money, and they can be stipulated at the onset of trial.” 

Marcoleta earlier acknowledged that he did not disclose the contributions from his co-accused, explaining that the donors had requested to remain anonymous and that the funds were intended for his 2025 election campaign.

He argued that those donations did not need to be included in his election disclosures because they were received before the official campaign period and had already been spent before declaring his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).