Barbers: Marcoleta's plunder rap unrelated to VP's impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — Prosecution panel spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers has maintained that there is no connection between the possible plunder raps against Senator Rodante Marcoleta and the looming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Barbers, in an online interview on Wednesday, said that while he considers Marcoleta a friend, he believes there is no connection between the plunder complaints that the Office of the Ombudsman intends to file. Barbers, former Surigao del Norte representative, echoed the statements from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla that the possible case against Marcoleta stemmed from the Senator’s own television interview. “Well for me, first of all, I respect his opinion, if that is his opinion, in fact it is his right to issue such statements based on his beliefs. But for me, personally, Senator Marcoleta is my friend but I believe, my personal opinion is that this has nothing to do with the impeachment,” Barbers told reporters covering the House of Representatives. “The case that he may face, as what the Office of the Ombudsman said, came from his own revelation of information, which was used by the Ombudsman to act immediately,” he added. Barbers was referring to Marcoleta’s statements in a television interview where he admitted that he received campaign donations worth P75 million from former lawmaker Mike Defensor (P30 million) Joseph Espiritu (P25 million) and Aristotle Viray (P20 million) for his Senate bid. According to his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta noted that the P75 million donations were not public funds. The Ombudsman, however, noted that the donated funds should have been included in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth, and that it is wrong to receive funds while being a sitting public official. Marcoleta was Sagip party-list representative during that time. When asked what may have been Marcoleta’s motive in tying the looming case against him to Duterte’s impeachment, Barbers said that it might be a legal or diversionary strategy. “Like what I said earlier, this is probably a strategy, both legal and maybe a diversionary strategy. We don’t know, I respect his opinion on this issue, and this maybe can only be resolved by none other than Senator Marcoleta.” said Barbers. The possible charges against Marcoleta prompted members of religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo, of which the Senator is a member of, to stage a surprise protest rally at the People Power Monument along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) early Tuesday morning. The rally caused heavy traffic on Edsa’s northbound lane, particularly near the Ortigas flyover up to White Plains Avenue. Eventually, INC came out with a statement saying that they are in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who may be charged with plunder, adding that they reject “selective justice” and the “distortion of law.” “The Iglesia ni Cristo supports what Senator Marcoleta stands for because it is also our position. We call for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace,” INC Spokesperson Bro. Edwil Zabala said in Filipino in a Net 25 livestream. /gsg