Marcoleta Refuses Plea in Third Graft Case, Cites Pending Supreme Court Motions

SENATOR Rodante D. Marcoleta on Monday refused to enter a plea in his third case for alleged violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 46, citing pending motions before the Supreme Court. The Sandiganbayan First Division entered a not guilty plea on his behalf after he declined to plead. His co-accused, businessman Aristotle B. Viray, pleaded not guilty. The charge is one of three separate cases filed against Mr. Marcoleta under PD No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts and private individuals from giving them, in connection with campaign donations received during his 2025 senatorial bid. Mr. Marcoleta also faces separate PD No. 46 cases before the Sandiganbayan’s Third and Fourth Divisions, where he has already pleaded not guilty. He and his co-accused likewise face a separate nonbailable plunder case over an alleged P75-million undeclared campaign donation. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez