Dennis Gasgonia

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

MANILA— Embattled Senator Rodante Marcoleta may still participate in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte until an arrest warrant is issued by the Sandiganbayan.Marcoleta is facing a non-bailable plunder charge before the third division of the anti-graft court, over his non-disclosure of P75 million funds in his campaign contributions.Several senators echoed this sentiment, amid Marcoleta&#x27;s looming arrest.&quot;He&#x27;s still a senator, kung may warrant, he has the right to appear before the trial. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi unless may nakalagay na suspension like Senator Jinggoy na suspended siya,&quot; Senator Erwin Tulfo told DZMM Teleradyo on Saturday. &quot;Si Senator Marcoleta hangga&#x27;t walang suspension order he can still attend,&quot; he added.Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian did not answer questions on how the Senate will act in case the arrest warrant is issued on Monday, also the impeachment trial&#x27;s first day. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/marcoleta-plunder-case-filed-1023">Ombudsman files plunder case vs Marcoleta over alleged non-disclosure of campaign funds </a> </div>&quot;Si Senator Marcoleta ay merong opportunity na magbigay ng kanyang defense at magpaliwanag sa korte, papakinggan ng Sandigan kung ano ang kanyang depensa at dito gagawa ng desisyon,&quot; Gatchalian said.&quot;We cannot preempt, court ito eh, we cannot preempt kung ano yung kanyang gagawin o magiging desisyon,&quot; he added.Meanwhile, Atty. Dino de Leon, who first filed a disqualification case against Marcoleta before the COMELEC, said Marcoleta must be automatically suspended once the arrest warrant is released.&quot;His office should be closed down. Sa aking palagay. Lahat tayo taxpayers, bakit tayo magbabayad para sa supposedly hindi nagfufunction na opisina? Dapat hindi kasama sa bilang at dapat sarhan opisina habang suspended,&quot; he added.Asked about the suspicious timing of the filing, De Leon says it&#x27;s not the core issue.&quot;The timing is right cause it&#x27;s pretty recent. Buti nga naifile na. Ngayon may koneksyon ba ito sa impeachment o wala? Sa&#x27;kin, regardless. Non-issue. Balik tayo sa ebidensya,&quot; De Leon said.De Leon asserted that the plunder charge stems from Marcoleta&#x27;s own pronouncement on national TV, making his confession the strongest evidence in the case against him.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/ombudsman-on-marcoleta-plunder-raps-debt-of-gratitude-no-place-in-public-office-1325">Ombudsman on Marcoleta plunder raps: Debt of gratitude ‘no place in public office’ </a> </div>&quot;Lagi kasi sasabihin pulitika lang yan, whether political or not, let&#x27;s take a look at the evidence,&quot; he added.The Palace meanwhile said it will not force any decision, as it respects the judiciary as a co-equal branch of government.&quot;Walang pag-iimpluwensya, walang pambabraso, walang pagpressure ang gagawin ng ehekutibo dahil ang Pangulo iginagalang ang korte,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a briefing in Vancouver, Canada. Marcoleta earlier claimed that the charges were filed to prevent him from participating in the trial.<div> </div>

Embattled Senator Rodante Marcoleta may still participate in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte until an arrest warrant is issued by the Sandiganbayan.

Embattled Senator Rodante Marcoleta may still participate in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte until an arrest warrant is issued by the Sandiganbayan.

Marcoleta may participate in impeachment trial while there's no warrant

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Marcoleta may participate in impeachment trial while there's no warrant

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 04:37 PM PHT

Read More:

Rodante Marcoleta

Plunder

Sandiganbayan

Campaign

Impeachment

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