Palace Expects INC to Respect Law After Senator Marcoleta's Surrender

Malacañang on Monday expressed belief that the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) would respect the country's courts and laws following the surrender of Senator Rodante Marcoleta amid the implementation of an arrest warrant against him in connection with a plunder case. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remark when asked about the government's preparedness for a possible backlash from the INC. “Tayo po, unang-una, ayaw po nating sumagot ng hypothetical question dahil alam po natin ang liderato ng INC ay gumagalang po kung ano ang sinasabi rin po ng korte, kung ano po ang sinasabi ng batas,” she said during a press briefing. (First of all, we do not want to answer a hypothetical question because we know that the leadership of the INC respects what the courts say and what the law provides.) “So, mananatili po tayo sa paniniwala na ang nangyayari po at ang pagpapatupad lamang ng batas ay igagalang din pong liderato ng INC,” she added. (So, we will continue to believe that the enforcement of the law will likewise be respected by the leadership of the INC.) The Sandiganbayan earlier ordered the arrest of Marcoleta, former Michael Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray in connection with the plunder case. Marcoleta later surrendered to authorities and was brought to Camp Crame in Quezon City. Castro also said it is up to the Senate to determine how Marcoleta's surrender could affect proceedings in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. She stressed that the executive branch's role is limited to enforcing a valid court-issued arrest warrant. Asked for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s reaction, Castro said the President respects the rule of law. “Kung 'yan po ang sinasaad at sinasabi ng batas at 'yan po ang kautusan ng korte, 'yan naman po ay ire-respeto ng Pangulo,” she said. (If that is what the law provides and what the court orders, then the President will respect it.) Meanwhile, Castro said Defensor and his allies should have promptly submitted concrete evidence to support their allegations of corruption. She made the remark after Defensor said they had been detained ahead of those who allegedly stole public funds.—MCG, GMA News “Konkretong ebidensya, hindi lang puro pa-media. Mas magkakaroon po ng resolusyon at ng solusyon kung sila ay nagsumite kaagad ng mga konkretong ebidensya para kung sino 'yung mga tao na nais nilang papanagutin, napanagot na po sana, nadala na po sana sa korte,” Castro said. (Concrete evidence, not just media appearances. There would have been a better chance of resolving the matter if they had immediately submitted concrete evidence, so that the people they wanted held accountable could already have been brought before the courts.)