Plunder, other raps vs. Marcoleta on track over P75M undeclared donations

The filing of plunder and other related cases against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and three others this week over the Senator’s P75-million undeclared campaign donations is on track, Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said. Clavano made the announcement amid ongoing protests by members of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) against the filing of charges against Marcoleta. “Well that [filing of plunder and other cases] seems to be on track. That P75 million would have doubled his net worth. You're not supposed to be able to receive that much of an amount as a public official,” Clavano said in a press conference. He was referring to the P75 million that Marcoleta received from his campaign donors in January 2025 as a Sagip party-list lawmaker and ahead of the campaign period for the 2025 Senate race. “If it is the campaign period, then the law allows for public officials or those who are running, those who are candidates [for elective position], to solicit donations or to solicit contributions, provided that it is within the limit of allowable contributions. If it goes over that, that's a violation. If you don't declare it, it's also a violation. Here, there was no declaration [from Marcoleta] whatsoever,” Clavano added. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier said that the filing of cases against Marcoleta is based on merit. "They all know that it is not true. When there is a motu proprio investigation, hindi na inaawat 'yan. Kasi may pupuntahan talaga 'yan," Remulla said. (You don't intervene in a motu proprio investigation because that probe will have results.) "I never instructed anybody to conduct such investigation. It was brought up by a team, and the work was good, so I said we will the case. [When] the evidence is in front of you, might as well bring it to court," he added. Since Remulla’s announcement, Marcoleta has maintained his innocence and said such efforts are just out to silent him and legitimate dissent. — BM, GMA News