Senator Rodante Marcoleta – Phot courtesy of Avito Dalan/Philippine News Agency.
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and his co-accused over an alleged Php 75 million campaign donation.
The case stemmed from donations allegedly made in January 2025 for Marcoleta’s senatorial campaign.
Former Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, Aristotle Viray, and Joseph Espiritu allegedly gave Php 30 million, Php 25 million, and Php 20 million, respectively.
In his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta argued that the Php 75 million was not public money.
State prosecutors, however, noted that the amount exceeded the Php 50 million threshold for plunder under Republic Act No. 7080.
Prosecutors also said the alleged donation was not reflected in Marcoleta’s statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as of June 30, 2025.
The complaint said Marcoleta declared only Php 39.6 million in assets in that SALN, which he said he had acquired from 1992 to June 30, 2025.
In his December 2025 SALN, Marcoleta allegedly declared only Php 16.7 million in cash and savings. Marcoleta said the donations were not listed in his SALNs because the funds had already been spent for election-related purposes by the time the documents were prepared and were no longer assets in his possession.