Broadcaster seeks excuse from testifying in Marcoleta plunder trial

A broadcaster who interviewed Senator Rodante Marcoleta has asked the Sandiganbayan to be excused as a witness in the plunder charge lodged against the Senator and three others over P75 million in alleged undeclared campaign donations. Nelson Lubao, who interviewed Marcoleta during a November 8, 2025 television episode on Net 25, made the pleading in a manifestation with motion to be excused as witness for the prosecution, which he sent to the court via email on September 9, 2026. The Sandiganbayan Third Division subpoenaed Lubao to testify in the case filed by government prosecutors against Marcoleta and his three campaign donors Joseph Varias Espiritu, Aristotle Baluyut Viray, and former Anakalusugan lawmaker Michael "Mike" Defensor. The court’s subpoena stemmed from the motion made by the state prosecutors, given that it was Lubao who asked Marcoleta to explain why he declared a P52-million net worth in his SALN, way lower than his declared Statement of Campaign Expenditures at P139.9 million. Lubao asked, “Ang sabi nila ay papaano nagkaroon ng expenditure na ganito kataas gayong ang kanyang asset ay mas maliit. Sen, papaano ba ang mga nangyari?” (People are asking how the expenditures are this high for someone who has smaller assets? Kindly explain it, Senator.) Marcoleta replied that he did not list his friends’ campaign contribution because they requested that their identities not be disclosed. “Kapag naglagay ako ng figure sa contribution, mapipilitan ako mag-disclose ng pangalan nila dahil mayroon kaakibat na kung tawagin ay deed of acceptance of donation. Papaano iyon? Sabi niya, binigay ko nga sa iyo ‘yan. Ituring mo na lang na utang. Dahil sa hindi ko pwedeng isiwalat ang kanilang identity, kaya sinabi ko, zero in contribution,” he added. (If I put a figure on their contribution, I would be forced to drop their names due to deed of acceptance of donation. How do I deal with it then? I was told that the money given to me can be treated as a loan. And since I cannot disclose their identity, I stated zero contribution.) The Sandiganbayan Third Division gave both the prosecution and the defense 10 days to file their respective comment on Lubao’s motion to be excused. Ombudsman prosecutors are alleging that Marcoleta unjustly enriched himself by accepting the P75 million gift from his co-accused in the case. In addition, state prosecutors said that the donor’s tax for three tranches of the contribution given to Marcoleta by his co-accused in January 2025 were paid only in December 2025 which is in violation of Section 103(B) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, which provides: ‘The return of the donor required in this Section shall be filed within 30 days after the date the gift is made and the tax due thereon shall be paid at the time of filing.” Also on Thursday, Marcoleta’s camp refused to stipulate, meaning agree, that the YouTube link of Lubao's November 8, 2025 interview with Marcoleta is genuine. Marcoleta has denied liability in the plunder charge and views it as politically motivated amid his criticisms of the administration’s efforts to prosecute those involved in the flood control kickback scheme. — BM, GMA News