Sandiganbayan issues arrest order for Marcoleta over P75M plunder rap

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan’s Third Division has issued an arrest order against Senator Rodante Marcoleta for the plunder case brought by the P75 million campaign donations he received while being a sitting party-list lawmaker. The Third Division issued the arrest order Monday morning after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder raps against Marcoleta on Friday. In a statement on Friday, the Ombudsman said that the filing of the case against Marcoleta was neither a decision they made “lightly or by choice,” reiterating that the evidence came from the senator himself. Last January 2025, Marcoleta admitted during a television program that he received P75 million worth of campaign donations from former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, and two private citizens — a certain Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu. Defensor allegedly donated P30 million, Viray P25 million, and Espiritu P20 million for Marcoleta’s senatorial bid in the 2025 elections. In his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta noted that the P75 million donation cannot be considered public funds, even though the donated funds exceeded the P50 million threshold for plunder under Republic Act (RA) 7080. However, Ombudsman officials like Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano noted several times that plunder can be committed even without the involvement of public funds. State prosecutors also noted that the campaign donations were not reflected in his SALN as of June 30, 2025. Instead, the complaint noted that Marcoleta only declared P39.6 million in his SALN, which he said he acquired from 1992 to June 30, 2025. After it was announced that the Office of the Ombudsman will file plunder cases against Marcoleta, several members of religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo flocked to the Edsa People Power Monument to stage a surprise protest on Tuesday morning. The demonstration caused heavy traffic on Edsa’s northbound lane, particularly near the Ortigas flyover up to White Plains Avenue. Eventually, INC came out with a statement saying that they are in support of Marcoleta, a member of their church, adding that they reject “selective justice” and the “distortion of law.” Last Tuesday, Marcoleta also addressed the Ombudsman’s statements about the case against him, saying that it is part of a coordinated effort to prevent him from participating during Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate, which will start on July 6. According to the Office of the Ombudsman, they understand that the case has “stirred intense public debate,” but people must submit to the law and let the facts decide the case.