Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Daniza Fernandez

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla will not budge on filing a plunder charge against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta in the face of a protest by Iglesia ni Cristo members at the People Power Monument on EDSA that is on its second day.</p><p>Remulla earlier announced that a plunder case will be filed against Marcoleta over undeclared campaign donations, prompting the rally, which the Quezon City government has since issued a permit for.</p><p>“Nothing has changed, we will file, we will file, this has not changed anything,” Remulla said.</p><p>Remulla said filing criminal cases is part of the job of the Office of the Ombudsman and stressed “there is no selective justice&quot; at the independent constitutional body.</p><p>“Our friends from the INC are the ones who instigated it due to a feeling that they have that Rodante Marcoleta was being singled out among other people, and we all know that that is not true,,” Remulla said in a speech on Tuesday.</p><p>&quot;Alam n’yo naman dito basta may motu proprio investigation, hindi na inaawat ‘yan. Hindi na inaawat kasi baka may mapupuntahan talaga ‘yan.&quot;</p><p>He said one of the investigating teams had brought up the potential case and that &quot;the work was good&quot; and warranted the filing of a case.</p><p>“Tama naman, ‘di ba? I mean, when the evidence presents itself in front of you, you might as well bring it to court, lalong-lalo na ito ‘yung example na gusto ng tao — mataas man o mababa, tatamaan sa atin ‘pag mali ang ginawa,” he added.</p><p>Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the office “believes that we are following exactly the wording of the law.&quot; </p><p>He said on ANC’s &quot;Dateline Philippines&quot; on Wednesday that &quot;if they have this theory that certain people are bending the law, what we are out to get are those who break the law.”</p><p>Clavano said about 180 cases are almost ready for signing in the next few weeks to show that they are acting regardless of one’s political party or ranking in the government. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/29/ombudsman-to-file-plunder-raps-vs-sen-rodante-marcoleta-1526"><strong>Plunder case vs Marcoleta, Mike Defensor up for filing </strong></a> </div><p>The looming charge stemmed from Marcoleta’s non-disclosure of P75 million of campaign donations in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth and Statement of Contribution and Expenditures.</p><p>The donors — former congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu — will also be charged.</p><p>Condemning the possible filing, Marcoleta claimed the move aims to prevent him from participating in the flood control scandal inquiry and impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION STRATEGY </strong></div><p>Remulla was a guest during the launch of “National Anti-Corruption Strategy” by the Presidential United Nations Convention Against Corruption Inter-Agency Committee  composed of heads of agencies under the Office of the President - Executive Secretary, Justice Secretary, Foreign Affairs Secretary, Budget and Management Secretary, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and Interior and Local Government Secretary.</p><p>It aims to prevent, detect, investigate and address corruption in government.</p><p>The anti-corruption strategy is part of the obligations of the Philippine government as a signatory to the 2003 UN Convention Against Corruption and the 2006 Senate ratification of the convention which made the Philippines a state party.</p><p>In his speech during the launch, Remulla said his office will convene various stakeholders from the government, civil society and the academe for an operational plan.</p><p>“We will present our operational plan—not as a finished product—but as a living framework that will continue to evolve through dialogue, constructive criticism, shared experience, and collaboration,” Remulla said.</p><p>Deputy Executive Secretary Jesse Andres emphasized that the strategy involves preventive measures, criminalization and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, technical assistance and information exchange.</p><p>“So we have to strengthen the capabilities of law enforcement agents, investigation and accountability, so part of the strategy is increasing those capabilities,” Andres said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/marcoleta-condemns-possible-filing-of-plunder-raps-against-him-1353"><strong>Marcoleta condemns possible filing of plunder raps vs him: &#x27;Planado po ito&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_fGRfu0oREI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla will not budge on filing a plunder charge against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta in the face of a protest by Iglesia ni Cristo members at the People Power Monument on EDSA that is on its second day.</p>

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla will not budge on filing a plunder charge against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta in the face of a protest by Iglesia ni Cristo members at the People Power Monument on EDSA that is on its second day.

Ombudsman firm on filing plunder rap vs. Marcoleta

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Ombudsman firm on filing plunder rap vs. Marcoleta

Daniza Fernandez,

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2026 03:44 PM PHT

|

Updated July 01, 2026 05:07 PM PHT

Read More:

Jesus Crispin Remulla

Office of the Ombudsman

Mico Clavano

Rodante Marcoleta

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