Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Monday, May 25, fiercely defended himself against a plunder complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, labeling the accusations as a weaponized legal attack meant to silence independent lawmakers.
In a privilege speech, Marcoleta argued that the case—initiated by the Field Investigation Bureau of the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon—was “perfectly timed” to intimidate dissenting voices in the Senate ahead of crucial legislative and constitutional battles.
“The trumped-up charges filed against me and some of my friends are not merely legal accusations. 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 stated.
The plunder charges, filed on May 18, name Marcoleta alongside former Anakalusugan Party-list Representative Mike Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Aristotle Baluyut Viray.
Ombudsman investigators allege that Marcoleta accepted gifts totaling ₱75 million on three separate occasions during his tenure as a member of the House of Representatives.
The SOCE and SALN Discrepancy
The legal scrutiny stems from Marcoleta’s financial disclosures during the May 2025 midterm polls. In his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) filed with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the lawmaker declared zero contributions but reported spending ₱112 million. Meanwhile, his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) indicated a net worth of ₱51.96 million.
In a television interview, Marcoleta defended the discrepancy, explaining that he withheld donor identities to respect their request for anonymity, a defense he claims COMELEC cleared. He maintained that the law does not criminalize acts of generosity or friendship unless they are tied to corruption.
“What official act did I sell? What vote did I promise? What public fund did I touch? What government contract was delivered? What favor was asked, promised, or given?” the senator asked, asserting that suspicion alone does not equal corruption. “At least I stated the truth. At least I faced the issue. At least I did not hide behind silence.”
Links to Senate Inquiries and Impeachment
Marcoleta strongly linked the plunder complaint to high-stakes political maneuvers in the upper chamber, including ongoing Senate investigations into anomalous flood control projects—which he described as “among the greatest sins of our modern public life”—and upcoming impeachment proceedings.
He warned that powerful interest groups are weaponizing legal processes to clear the floor of critical voices before decisive votes take place.
Concluding his speech, Marcoleta referenced a controversial philosophy on governance, quoting a remark allegedly made inside the chamber by former Justice Secretary and current Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla:
“Sometimes you need to bend the law to be able to please the people,” Marcoleta quoted, before declaring defiance against his accusers: “They can imprison me, they can arrest me, but I tell them, they still will not win.”
The senator vowed to maintain his independence and actively participate in all upcoming Senate inquiries despite the legal challenge.