Camille Naredo

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, wearing a PDL shirt, exits the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City amid heavy security on July 15, 2026.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta, wearing a PDL shirt, exits the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City amid heavy security on July 15, 2026.
The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered the transfer of Marcoleta to the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas after UP-Philippine General Hospital director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi issued a statement confirming that Marcoleta has no medical condition requiring hospitalization.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

SEN RODANTE MARCOLETA- SANDIGANBAYAN

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178523083363120260715-senator-rodante-marcoleta-sandiganbayan-JC4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator Rodante Marcoleta, wearing a PDL shirt, exits the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City amid heavy security on July 15, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Rodante Marcoleta, wearing a PDL shirt, exits the Sandiganbayan in Quezon City amid heavy security on July 15, 2026. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and two of their co-accused businessmen appeared before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday afternoon for the preliminary conference of their plunder case over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million campaign donations.</p><p>During the preliminary conference, the prosecution and defense usually mark evidence and list witnesses to be presented during the trial.</p><p>Three weeks after the anti-graft court ordered his arrest, Marcoleta reiterated that the charges against him were politically motivated.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/marcoleta-enters-not-guilty-plea-to-plunder-gift-receipt-cases-0905">READ: Marcoleta enters not guilty plea to plunder, gift receipt cases</a></div><p>&quot;Hindi naman normal yung nangyari sa amin. Ako, bilang isang senador na maraming gagampanan na tungkulin. Andami kong gustong ibulgar. Alam niyo naman na ayaw kong iwanan yung flood control scandal at meron pang impeachment trial na nagaganap. So di niyo maiaalis sa akin na maisip ko talaga na itong nangyari sa akin was politically motivated,&quot; Marcoleta said in an ambush interview.</p><p>The senator claimed his arrest was also intended to prevent him from exposing those allegedly behind the flood control scandal and to keep him from attending Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. </p><p>&quot;Para di ko na gampanan ang tungkulin ko para malaman ng taumbayan kung sino ba talaga ang utak ng pinakamalaking naganap na nakawan sa ating bansa. At hindi na rin ako makakasali sa isang napakalaking proseso na nagaganap ngayon sa senado. So nakakalungkot talaga,&quot; Marcoleta said.</p><p>&quot;Nalulungkot ako sapagkat hindi lang ako ang nakakulong. Ang nakakulong dito ay taumbayan. Anong nakakulong dito? Yung kanilang hinahanap na katotohanan hanggang ngayon ay hindi naibibigay sa kanila,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MARCOLETA HOPES TO CONVINCE SENATE TO ALLOW HIS ATTENDANCE AT VP TRIAL</strong></div><p>Marcoleta said he previously submitted a manifestation to the Senate to allow him and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to attend the impeachment trial.</p><p>He said he presented what he believes are sufficient legal bases for the Senate to find a way to let them participate in the proceedings. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/escudero-marcoleta-says-he-can-vote-in-impeachment-trial-while-detained-1858">READ: Marcoleta says he can vote in impeachment trial while detained — Escudero</a></div><p>&quot;Doon ay inilahad ko ang katwiran na legal kung bakit kailangan humanap ang Senado ng kaukulang pamamaraan para si Senador Jinggoy at ako ay makapag-participate na ganap sa impeachment trial,&quot; Marcoleta said.</p><p>&quot;Senador ako eh. So, dapat, bilang tulong niyo na sa amin, i-follow up ninyo yung manifestation sapagkat alam ko ite-tetake up ng Senado yun… sinend ko lahat ang mga legal basis kung papaanong katungkulan ng Senado na humanap sila ng paraan, para kami, kahit sa ganitong kalagaya, makasali kami,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MARCOLETA, DEFENSOR LAMBAST MARCOS’ SONA</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xBg26I1nzmw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>A day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address, Marcoleta questioned the omission of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez&#x27;s full name from the president&#x27;s remarks on the impending filing of charges during his speech.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung malapit nang sampahan, hindi man lang binanggit yung pangalan kung sino yung former Speaker,&quot; Marcoleta said.</p><p>Defensor argued that the president&#x27;s claims on corruption did not reflect reality. He also reiterated his claim that only the administration’s &quot;political enemies&quot; have been arrested so far.</p><p>&quot;Yung SONA ng presidente, para sa akin, walang ibig sabihin. Kasi ang tinitignan lang mga tao, yung problema ng korapsyon… sinabi niya marami na yung nakulung. Hindi totoo yun. Ang nakulong lang yung mga kalaban niya sa politika,&quot; Defensor said. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/will-marcoleta-share-jail-cell-with-estrada-revilla-1135">READ: Will Marcoleta share jail cell with Estrada, Revilla?</a></div><p>Defensor questioned the Office of the Ombudsman’s plan to make former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan a state witness.</p><p>He also pointed out that no cases have been filed against Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, former Budget Secretary and AAIBP Chair and CEO Amenah Pangandaman, and former Education Usec. Trygve Olaivar, who have been previously tagged in the flood control mess. </p><p>Marcoleta, Defensor, and the two businessmen earlier pleaded not guilty for plunder. </p><p>The senator also entered a not guilty plea on charges of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from receiving gifts.</p>

<p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and two of their co-accused businessmen appeared before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday afternoon for the preliminary conference of their plunder case over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million campaign donations.</p>

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and two of their co-accused businessmen appeared before the Sandiganbayan Third Division on Tuesday afternoon for the preliminary conference of their plunder case over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million campaign donations.

Marcoleta, Defensor, 2 co-accused show up at Sandiganbayan for preliminary conference

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Marcoleta, Defensor, 2 co-accused show up at Sandiganbayan for preliminary conference

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 28, 2026 05:30 PM PHT

Read More:

plunder

Sandiganbayan

Rodante Marcoleta

Mike Defensor

campaign donations

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