FACT CHECK: Supreme Court did NOT dismiss Marcoleta's plunder case

A YouTube channel named “Komentaryo PH” has spread false information claiming that Senator Rodante Marcoleta's plunder case was dismissed by the Supreme Court and he was declared not guilty. The video, which has garnered over 103,000 views, falsely stated that the case was "Dismissed in court! Marcoleta confirmed not guilty." The facts are that the Supreme Court did not dismiss Marcoleta's plunder case. In fact, the case is not even pending before the Supreme Court. The non-bailable plunder charges against Marcoleta were filed before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan, which has jurisdiction over the case. On July 3, the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division issued a warrant for Marcoleta’s arrest. The court has yet to conduct a trial or issue a verdict on the case. No Supreme Court decision, resolution, or order dismissing the case or declaring Marcoleta “not guilty” appears in the Court’s records or in any official announcement. The claim that Marcoleta’s case had been dismissed appears only in the thumbnail and is not substantiated by the livestream’s title, description, or content. Rather than discussing any supposed court decision, the video’s description focuses on a separate development in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s request to allow fellow senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada, both detained and facing separate criminal cases, to observe the proceedings as senator-judges. Marcoleta surrendered to authorities on July 6 after the Sandiganbayan issued a warrant for his arrest on plunder charges filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. The charges stem from Marcoleta’s alleged failure to declare P75 million in campaign contributions during the 2025 elections. Former Anakalusugan Representative Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray were named as co-accused. Aside from plunder, Marcoleta is also charged with three counts of alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 46 (receiving gifts). On July 8, the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division issued arrest warrants and hold departure orders against Marcoleta and Defensor. The senator has pleaded not guilty on both charges. Source: Rappler Philippines