Marcoleta Refuses Plea for Gift Ban Violation Charges

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday refused to enter a plea to charges of violating Presidential Decree 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts, citing pending motions with the Supreme Court, a report from GMA News’ Maki Pulido said. As a result, the Sandiganbayan First Division entered a not guilty plea for the senator. This was in connection with the portion of the P75 million in undeclared donations he received ahead of the 2025 midterm polls, when he ran for a Senate seat. Government prosecutors have alleged that Marcoleta unjustly enriched himself by accepting the donation as a public official. Likewise, the Ombudsman said that the taxes for the said donation were paid in December 2025 or almost 11 months after the January 2025 donation was made. Marcoleta has maintained innocence and tagged the charges as politically motivated.—AOL, GMA News