Senator Rodante Marcoleta defended the ₱75 million at the center of the Ombudsman complaint as campaign help from friends who believed in his Senate bid, rejected claims of corruption, and said the case was part of a broader attempt to silence independent voices.
Marcoleta, former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Aristotle Baluyut Viray are facing a pending preliminary investigation before the Office of the Ombudsman for one count of plunder and three counts of indirect bribery over alleged campaign donations totaling ₱75 million.
According to the complaint, Marcoleta received ₱30 million from Defensor, ₱25 million from Espiritu, and ₱20 million from Viray in January 2025. The complaint alleges the amount was not declared in the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures he filed with the Commission on Elections and was also not reflected in his 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.
Marcoleta has denied wrongdoing and said the complaint was politically motivated. In his defense, he said the funds came from friends who wanted to help him reach the Senate and whose only request, according to him, was that he not disclose their identities.
He argued that the law does not criminalize generosity among friends. He said friendship does not become corruption simply because the amount is large, and insisted there was no sale of public duty, no official act, no vote, and no government favor exchanged for the money.
“Ang ipinagbabawal ng batas ay hindi pagiging mapagbigay. Ang ipinagbabawal nito ay korapsyon,” Marcoleta said in substance, as he maintained that the complaint turned private support into a political weapon.
Marcoleta also framed the complaint as an attack on dissent. He said it was meant to silence him from speaking about flood-control anomalies and from participating in the impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte.
He warned that the case was designed to intimidate independent voices and send a message to senators about the cost of asking hard questions.
“If the intention of these cases is to silence me, let me say this at the beginning. It has failed. I will not be silenced,” Marcoleta said.
The Sandiganbayan has issued a precautionary hold departure order covering Marcoleta, Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray while the Ombudsman proceedings remain pending. A PHDO bars a respondent from leaving the country, but it is not an arrest warrant and does not determine guilt.
NBI Director Melvin Matibag also clarified that the bureau has no arrest warrant against Marcoleta to enforce.
Matibag said the NBI can only act once a valid warrant of arrest is issued by a court and transmitted to the bureau.
Marcoleta has maintained that he will answer the complaint in the proper forum calmly, firmly, and with evidence.
