Jamaine Punzalan

Representative Rodante Marcoleta attends the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on September 8, 2022 on the joint motu proprio inquiry into Sugar Order No. 4 by the Sugar Regulatory Administration to import 300,000 mt of sugar. Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout

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CONGRESS-SUGAR

Kaxandra Salonga

Daniza Fernandez

Izzy Lee

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/178331868243520260617-special-senate-session-commission-appoinment-marcoleta-MT11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator Rodante Marcoleta during a special session at the Senate of the Philippines on June 17, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator Rodante Marcoleta during a special session at the Senate of the Philippines on June 17, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested Monday after he surrendered to face his non-bailable plunder charges over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations.</p><p>The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered the arrest of Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor, and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu.</p><p>Marcoleta went to the Sandiganbayan on Monday morning for the hearing on his motions to quash the information charging him with plunder and to defer the issuance of warrant of arrest. </p><p>But the Sandiganbayan denied the motions, prompting Marcoleta&#x27;s arrest, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said. </p><p>&quot;Was he arrested or did he surrender? It was both,&quot; Remulla said. </p><p>&quot;He went there voluntarily sa Sandiganbayan to file a motion to quash, subsequently when it was denied, we closed down the building, we arrived, we arrested him.&quot;<strong></strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;HAHARAPIN KO ANG BATAS&#x27;</strong></div><div><strong><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/57u4jWwU5L8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><p>Marcoleta said he would face the charges against him.  </p><p>&quot;Pagpunta ko rito, inaasahan ko na lahat, mga proseso na gagawin. Kagaya ng sinabi ko sa inyo, ako ay hindi magtatago. Haharapin ko ang batas, ang asunto, sang-ayon sa pagkakaintindi ko sa mga batas natin,&quot; Marcoleta told reporters. </p><p>&quot;Kailangan kong dumaan ng proseso. Kasama na po yung pagpunta ko rito, yung hangarin ko na kung i-serve po nila yung warrant of arrest, tatanggapin ko,&quot; he added.</p><p>Marcoleta&#x27;s lawyer Patrick Velez said his client surrendered as an “act of good faith”.</p><p>Following the return of his arrest warrant to the court, Marcoleta was brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. </p><p>At around 12 noon, the 72-year-old Marcoleta was still &quot;undergoing medical procedures&quot; to ensure his physical fitness, Remulla said. </p><p>&quot;Hopefully within the next two days, tapos na lahat ang kaniyang examinations para sa kanyang full health na irereport namin sa Sandigabayan n na maaari na siyang...maging PDL (person deprived of liberty) sa Quezon City Payatas Jail,&quot; he said. </p><p>Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano called Marcoleta&#x27;s arrest &quot;selective justice.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko na iisa-isahin &#x27;yung mga issues. Napag-usapan na &#x27;yan during the rally. We know that many, many people feel it&#x27;s selective justice,&quot; said Cayetano, referring to the gathering of Iglesia Ni Cristo members last week in protest of Marcoleta&#x27;s looming arrest.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEFENSOR ARRESTED</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Defensor and Espiritu were arrested at a cafe in Quezon City, Remulla said. </p><p>He said the pair would also be brough to the Sandiganbayan for the arrest of warrant before their processing and medical clearance at the CIDG. </p><p>In an earlier Facebook live, Defensor said his looming arrest would stop him from speaking out against alleged corruption in government. </p><p>&quot;Nauna pa kaming makulong kaysa sa mga totoong nagnakaw sa kaban ng bayan. Makukulong nyo kami at mapapatahimik pero hindi po kami susuko,&quot; he said in a video message.</p><p>Malacanang said it respects the arrest warrant against Marcoleta.</p><p>&quot;Kung yan po ang isinasaad at sinasabi ng batas at &#x27;yan po ang kautusan ng korte, &#x27;yan po ay nirerespeto ng Pangulo,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. </p><p>Reacting to Defensor&#x27;s statement, she added: &quot;Sana po ay minamadali rin nila ang pagbibigay ng mga ebidensya, konkretong ebidensya... Mas magkakaroon po ngresolusyon at solusyon kung sila ay nagsumita kaagad ng mga konkretong ebidensya para kung sino yung mga taong nais nilang panagutin ay napanagot na po sana. Nadala na po sana sa korte ang mga kasong kanilang idudulog.&quot;</p><p>Defensor and Espiritu were detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory. Viray is still at large.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL </strong></div><div><br/></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/XoYjjc_RPBw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Marcoleta was arrested hours before the Senate <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. </a></div><p>Marcoleta’s counsel argued that the issuance of a warrant of arrest will hinder Marcoleta’s duties as a senator and his participation in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>However, Associate Justice Karl Miranda said the court of law is beyond the “political arena” in which legislators are part of.</p><p>Last week, thousands of members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo church, a powerful took to the streets to protest the charges against Marcoleta, grinding traffic to a halt. Church spokesman Edwil Zabala slammed the case against Marcoleta as <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/iglesia-ni-cristo-backs-marcoleta-amid-plunder-raps-questions-selective-justice-0920">&quot;selective justice&quot;.</a></p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/-they-are-wrong-marcos-disputes-inc-s-claim-of-selective-justice-in-his-administration-2048">‘They are wrong’: Marcos disputes INC claim of ‘selective justice’ in his administration </a></div><p>Marcoleta is the second senator to be charged in just over a month, with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/1/jinggoy-estrada-faces-second-arrest-warrant-for-non-bailable-plunder-1414">Estrada jailed </a>over his alleged role in a massive corruption scandal involving bogus flood control projects.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/12/jinggoy-estrada-says-participation-in-impeachment-trial-far-from-settled-1817">Jinggoy Estrada says participation in impeachment trial &#x27;far from settled&#x27; </a></div><p><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/19/bato-as-fugitive-makes-15-votes-enough-to-impeach-vp-duterte-expert-1058">Sen. Ronald &quot;Bato&quot; Dela Rosa</a>, a Duterte ally, is in hiding after narrowly escaping arrest on an International Criminal Court warrant over his role in the deadly drug war conducted by the vice president&#x27;s father, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte.</p><p>Whether their absence will have a bearing on the outcome of the impeachment trial is a matter of debate.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/five-things-to-know-about-the-vp-sara-duterte-and-her-impeachment-0949">Five things to know about VP Sara Duterte and her impeachment </a></div><p>While the Philippine Constitution requires a guilty vote by &quot;two-thirds of all the members&quot; of the 24-seat Senate to convict, impeachment prosecutor Representative Gerville &quot;Jinky&quot; Luistro has argued the threshold should only include senators who take part in the trial.</p><p>&quot;If a senator is in jail, in hiding, in hospital or abroad ... how are we going to consider them for the purpose of determining... the required number of votes?&quot; she asked at a press conference last month.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/19/bato-as-fugitive-makes-15-votes-enough-to-impeach-vp-duterte-expert-1058">Bato as &#x27;fugitive&#x27; makes 15 votes enough to convict VP Duterte—expert</a></div><p>The House of Representatives on May 11 impeached Duterte on allegations of graft, corruption, bribery and an alleged assassination plot against one-time ally President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>A guilty verdict in the Senate would see her removed as vice president and permanently banned from elected office.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PALACE RESPECTS SANDIGANBAYAN DECISION</strong></div><p>The Palace said Monday afternoon that it respects the Sandiganbayan&#x27;s decision to issue a warrant of arrest against Marcoleta.</p><p>&quot;Kung iyan po ang isinasaad at sinasabi ng batas at iyan naman po ang kautusan ng korte, iyan naman po ay irerespeto ng Pangulo,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during the Malacanang briefing.</p><p>Asked how the arrest will affect the impeachment proceedings, Castro said it&#x27;s up to the Senate to decide, but she believes the arrest cannot stop the trial.</p><p>&quot;Ang sa atin naman po, sa anumang pagkakataon, kung anuman ang oras, kung anumang araw, kung ano ang sinasabi ng korte, kung mayroon silang inisyu na warrant or arrest, hindi po ito mapapahinto hangga&#x27;t wala rin naman pong court order na maaaring magpahinto sa pagpapatupad dito,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;So, kung inisyu po ito ng korte, ito&#x27;y valid warrant of arrest, wala pong magagawa ang Ehekutibo kundi ito ay i-enforce,&quot; she added.</p><p>Castro also chided Defensor, who had questioned why they will be imprisoned earlier than those involved in flood control scam.</p><p>&quot;Sana po ay minadali din nila ang pagbibigay ng mga ebidensiya – kongkretong ebidensiya, hindi lang puro pa-media. Mas magkakaroon po ng resolusyon at ng solusyon kung sila ay nagsumite kaagad ng mga kongkretong ebidensiya para kung sino iyong mga tao na nais nilang papanagutin ay napanagot na po sana, nadala na po sana sa korte ang mga kasong kanilang idudulog,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Pero hangga&#x27;t hindi sila nakakapagbigay ng kongkretong ebidensiya, hindi po talaga ito kakagatin ng korte,&quot; Castro added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MOTIONS DENIED </strong></div><p>Earlier in the day, the court denied the motion to suspend proceedings and defer the issuance of warrants of arrest against Marcoleta, Defensor, and Espiritu.</p><p>“The issuance of the warrant of arrest signifies only that after evaluating the records, the court found probable cause to believe that the accused committed the offense charged,” Associate Justice Karl Miranda said.</p><p>He said a probable cause for the issuance of a warrant of arrest exists when the facts and circumstances would lead a reasonably discreet and prudent person to believe that an offense has been committed by the person sought to be arrested.</p><p>“Let me stress, yung warrant of arrest does not constitute a determination of guilt. Hindi pa guilty &#x27;yan. All the accused continue to enjoy the constitutional presumption of innocence until their guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt,” Miranda said.</p><p>“Again, the court&#x27;s proceedings are governed solely by the Constitution, the applicable laws, and the evidence properly presented before me-- before it,” he added.</p><p>Miranda said he made the exemption of talking to the media for the first time in 10 years to prevent an information vacuum, where verified information is scarce and quickly filled with speculation and misinformation. </p><p>He also reminded the prosecutors and counsels of the respondents that they are duty-bound to uphold the integrity and administration of justice and ensure compliance with lawful orders of the court.</p><p>The court has also issued hold departure orders against the respondents, who are set to be committed to the Quezon City Jail in Payatas, where Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. are currently detained.</p><p>The court gave the prosecution three days to file a comment on the motions of Marcoleta, Defensor, and Espiritu to quash the information charging them with plunder.</p><p>The case stems from allegations that Marcoleta, then a sitting congressman, accepted P75 million in campaign donations from Defensor and businessmen and failed to declare the funds in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).</p><p>Under the Anti-Plunder Act, a public official may be prosecuted if found to have amassed at least P50 million in alleged ill-gotten wealth.</p><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse; RG Cruz and Jervis Manahan, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</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/ucCCNMDlEkc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/tqMUMP4g7xQ?&amp;pp=0gcJCUwLAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/43adiIULE_4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested Monday after he surrendered to face his non-bailable plunder charges over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations.</p>

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested Monday after he surrendered to face his non-bailable plunder charges over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations.

Marcoleta arrested for non-bailable plunder case

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Marcoleta arrested for non-bailable plunder case

Kaxandra Salonga,

Daniza Fernandez,

Izzy Lee,

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 06, 2026 10:23 AM PHT

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Updated July 06, 2026 04:26 PM PHT

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Marcoleta

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