Ombudsman on plunder raps vs. Marcoleta: Law should prevail

The Office of the Ombudsman on Friday called on members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) to "allow due process" to proceed after their three-day rally in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla made the call after the filing of a plunder case and three other counts of violation of the prohibition on public officials from receiving gifts against Marcoleta and three others over undeclared campaign contributions totaling P75 million. "Today, we filed a plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan. This was not a decision made lightly or by choice. The evidence includes three cash donations totaling P75 million, undeclared in the senator's SALN (Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth) and campaign finance reports. This leaves our office no discretion to look away," "We recognize this case has stirred intense public debate, and we respect every citizen's right to an opinion, to rally, and to demand accountability, including from us. What we ask in return is what we ourselves commit to: let the facts and the law decide, not sentiment or fear," The Ombudsman said their allegations are not in dispute. "The senator has publicly confirmed receiving the money, and they can be stipulated at the onset of trial. What remains is a question of law: whether these undisputed facts constitute plunder and bribery. We took an oath to enforce the law regardless of who is involved, and that oath does not waver for popularity, position, or personal relationships," The Ombudsman also flagged Marcoleta’s earlier statement tagging the donation as mere utang na loob or debt of gratitude, saying that a public official only owes the Filipino people genuine public service. "We honor "utang na loob" as one of our culture's most beautiful values. It is a debt of gratitude between family, friends, and neighbors. But it has no place in public office. A public servant owes no personal debt to any donor that supersedes what they owe the Filipino people." "The moment gratitude is used to explain away P75 million in undisclosed money, it stops being "utang na loob" and becomes exactly what our plunder and bribery laws were written to prevent," The Ombudsman said that Senator Marcoleta remains innocent before the court of law. "Senator Marcoleta retains the presumption of innocence and every right to defend himself before the Sandiganbayan. We did not choose this fight. But when the law leaves no room for silence, silence is not an option." Marcoleta was the representative of the Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (SAGIP) party-list at the time of the donations. The senator has called the accusations against him part of a plan to silence him. "They form part of a deeper and more nefarious design— to intimidate independent voices, to punish dissent, and to warn every senator that the price of asking hard questions could lead to personal damnation,” Marcoleta said. "If the intention of these cases is to silence me, let me say this at the beginning. It has failed. I will not be silenced,” he added. -- VAL, GMA News