The Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan on Friday morning against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over the alleged P75 million in campaign contributions tied to his 2025 Senate bid.
Marcoleta has consistently denied the allegations, describing the case as politically motivated. He maintained that the funds were legitimate campaign contributions and should not be considered ill-gotten wealth.
Alongside Marcoleta, the Ombudsman also charged former congressman Mike Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray. According to the Ombudsman, Marcoleta received the P75 million from the three co-accused and failed to disclose the amount in his 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.
In his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta argued that the funds were received before the official campaign period and had already been used for election-related expenses by the time he prepared his SALN. He said this was the reason the amount no longer appeared as an asset.
His camp further contended that the alleged discrepancies between his SALN and Statement of Contributions and Expenditures do not satisfy the legal elements necessary to support charges of plunder or bribery. Marcoleta has challenged his accusers to identify any specific official act, vote or government transaction that he allegedly influenced in exchange for money.
