SEN. MARCOLETA NO CRIMINAL LIABILITY in COMELEC DEFENSIBLE on PLUNDER CASE

 SEN. MARCOLETA NO CRIMINAL LIABILITY in COMELEC DEFENSIBLE on PLUNDER CASE

Senator Rodante Marcoleta acknowledged receiving P75 million in undeclared campaign funds prior to the 2025 senatorial elections, and the Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against him on Friday.

The filing was made just hours after Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) supporters of Marcoleta concluded their three-day demonstration against the non-bailable case.

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta attacked the Office of the Ombudsman for intending to bring charges of plunder and indirect bribery against him for accepting and failing to disclose a P75 million campaign donation, sensing that he would be arrested at any moment.

Senator Marcoleta stated in a Facebook video statement on Tuesday, June 30, that the charges against him were related to his declaration that he would look into the flood control scandal while serving as the Blue Ribbon committee's temporary head.

"I am aware that I will be arrested and imprisoned." However, that won't deter me from serving you," he remarked.

“You will know, there’s nobody now on my side. My only offense is serving you, and I don’t know if it can even be called an offense – to face them with courage so you’ll know the truth,” he said.

Mico Clavano, the assistant ombudsman, refuted Marcoleta's allegations. Speaking on PTV, Clavano emphasized that the anti-graft body is only carrying out its mandate in light of the evidence the lawmaker himself presented in his public broadcasts.

“I can’t see politics here because we file charges against anyone who commits offense,” he said. “It is not politics, it is accountability po.

”

The Marcoleta-led investigation concentrated on claims of rigged bidding and the contractors who cornered flood control contracts.