The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a non-bailable plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over alleged undisclosed P75 million campaign donations during the 2025 elections, with three alleged donors also named as respondents.
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed a non-bailable plunder case before the Sandiganbayan against Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Friday, July 3, over allegations involving undisclosed campaign donations amounting to P75 million during the 2025 national elections.
According to the complaint, the senator allegedly received millions of pesos in campaign contributions that were not declared in his official election reports, raising questions over compliance with election finance laws and the proper disclosure of campaign funds. The alleged omission became the basis for the filing of the plunder charge, a serious offense punishable under Philippine law and generally considered non-bailable when evidence of guilt is deemed strong.
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Also named as respondents in the case are Marcoleta’s alleged donors Mike Defensor, Joseph Espiritu, and Aristotle Viray who are accused of participating in transactions connected to the questioned campaign contributions. Authorities have yet to release the complete details of the evidence presented before the anti-graft court.
The filing of the case proceeded despite several days of demonstrations staged by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), who gathered in various areas to express support for the senator. The protests called for what participants described as fairness and due process in the handling of the allegations against Marcoleta.
The Office of the Ombudsman maintained that the decision to elevate the case to the Sandiganbayan was based on the findings of its investigation and was carried out in accordance with its constitutional mandate to prosecute public officials accused of corruption-related offenses.
With the case now before the Sandiganbayan, judicial proceedings are expected to begin, where the prosecution will present its evidence while the respondents will be given the opportunity to answer the allegations and defend themselves before the court. The filing marks another high-profile corruption case involving a sitting public official, with the outcome expected to draw significant public and political attention in the coming months.
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