In a development with major political implications, the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Monday morning ordered the arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta ahead of the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte this afternoon.
The arrest order also covers former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray. Marcoleta appeared before the Sandiganbayan to argue his motion to quash the plunder information, but Associate Justice Karl Miranda said the court found probable cause to proceed with the case.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed the nonbailable plunder charge on Friday. The case involves an alleged ₱75 million in campaign contributions tied to Marcoleta’s 2025 Senate bid while he was still serving as a congressman. Prosecutors alleged that the contributions were omitted from Marcoleta’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and campaign finance disclosures.
Marcoleta has contested the allegations, insisting the money consisted of legitimate campaign donations rather than public funds. He previously explained, “Utang na loob na, eh. Ngayon, dahil sa hindi ko puwedeng isiwalat ang kanilang identity, kaya sinabi ko zero in contribution.” Defensor likewise maintained, “No favor was requested, promised, or given in exchange for any donation.”
The Ombudsman dismissed that defense, saying, “The moment gratitude is used to explain away P75 million in undisclosed money, it stops being ‘utang na loob’ and becomes exactly what our plunder and bribery laws were written to prevent.”
The case comes at a critical point in the impeachment proceedings, with the Senate minority supporting Duterte already missing the participation of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who remains detained, and Sen. Ronald Bato Dela Rosa, who remains in hiding.
