Marcoleta arrested for plunder before VP trial

By Mark Joseph M. Sanchez

SENATOR Rodante D. Marcoleta, a key ally of Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio, was arrested on Monday, hours before the Senate was set to begin her impeachment trial, after the Sandiganbayan Third Division found probable cause to proceed with the plunder case against him and three co-accused.

Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda announced the issuance of arrest warrants and Philippine hold departure orders against Mr. Marcoleta, former Quezon City Rep. Michael T. Defensor, and businessmen Joseph V. Espiritu and Aristotle B. Viray for alleged violation of Republic Act No. 7080 or the Anti-Plunder Act.

Mr. Marcoleta also faces three counts of violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts. Those cases were raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s First, Fourth and Sixth divisions.

The Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder case before the Sandiganbayan on July 3, alleging that Mr. Marcoleta failed to declare P75 million in campaign contributions he received while serving as a congressman and running for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections.

Prosecutors alleged that Mr. Marcoleta did not disclose the contributions in his statement of contributions and expenditures and statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Mr. Marcoleta earlier claimed the case was intended to prevent him from taking part in Ms. Duterte’s impeachment trial, an allegation authorities have not addressed.

Speaking with reporters after appearing before the Sandiganbayan, Mr. Marcoleta said he voluntarily went to court because it had scheduled a hearing on his motion to quash the plunder case and defer the issuance of an arrest warrant.

“I have always submitted myself to the law,” he said in Filipino. “We have to respect all the rules and laws of our country.”

Mr. Marcoleta said he respects the court’s finding of probable cause and its issuance of an arrest warrant, but maintained that his motion to quash would proceed because his lawyers dispute the charges.

“I will not hide. I will face the law and the case based on my understanding of our laws,” he said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” C. Remulla said co-accused Mr. Defensor and Mr. Espiritu were later arrested at a coffee shop in Quezon City.

In a Facebook video posted shortly before his arrest, Mr. Defensor maintained that the case against him and Mr. Marcoleta was baseless and said their detention would prevent them from exposing corruption.

“We, who have been fighting corruption, are the ones who ended up in jail first over a case that has no basis,” he said. “Because of our detention, we can no longer speak out against corruption. All we want is for the truth to come out.”

“You may imprison and silence us, but we will not surrender,” he added.

Mr. Marcoleta, Mr. Defensor and Mr. Espiritu will be committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas after completing their medical exams, Mr. Remulla said.

Mr. Viray remained at large.

Meanwhile, the Palace said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. would respect court orders in the plunder case against Mr. Marcoleta, adding that it expects the leadership of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to likewise respect the judicial process.

INC LEADERSHIP
At a news briefing, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said the administration would abide by whatever the courts decide.

“If that is what the law provides and that is the order of the court, then the President will respect it,” she said in Filipino.

Ms. Castro declined to comment on former congressman Mr. Defensor’s claim that the case has no legal basis, saying the issue should be resolved before the court.

“They should raise and defend that before the court,” she said.

She added that Malacañang expects the INC, of which Mr. Marcoleta is a member, to respect the legal process.

“We know that the leadership of the INC respects what the courts say and what the law provides,” Ms. Castro said.

“We remain confident that the implementation of the law and the actions of the court will likewise be respected by the INC leadership,” she added.

The Ombudsman’s decision to file plunder charges against Mr. Marcoleta despite days of demonstrations by INC members has become a test of whether independent prosecutors can remain insulated from public and political pressure, political analysts said.

The Ombudsman on Friday filed the case before the Sandiganbayan, days after supporters led by the Iglesia ni Cristo held demonstrations in Quezon City and Manila backing Mr. Marcoleta, who belongs to the religious group.

“The Marcoleta case is unique because of his admission on national TV,” Michael Henry Ll. Yusingco, a senior research fellow at the Ateneo Policy Center, told BusinessWorld via Facebook Messenger. “The Ombudsman really had no choice but to pursue the case because of the evidence provided by the senator himself.”

Mr. Yusingco said public demonstrations should never influence prosecutorial decisions.

“Prosecutorial decisions should never be influenced by mass movements or demonstrations,” he said. “The same goes for judicial decisions.”

“Both are all about the charges laid and the evidence available. Public interest here is adhering to what the law demands,” he added.