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

Article (news)

CONGRESS-SUGAR

Kaxandra Salonga

Daniza Fernandez

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was placed in custody Monday for after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest for non-bailable plunder charges over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations.</p><p>The Sandiganbayan Third Division issued the arrest warrant for Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor, and businessmen Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu. </p><p>Marcoleta&#x27;s lawyer Patrick Velez said his client surrendered because he was already at the Sandiganbayan as an “act of good faith” when the arrest order was issued.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F28675793245344387%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span>&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. </div><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><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1763732081656317%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Personnel of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group confirmed that Marcoleta was arrested. They accompanied the senator to the courtroom for his return of warrant.</div><p>At around 10:30 a.m., Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and national police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. arrived at the Sandiganbayan.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=315&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F732401676633119%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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 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><div><em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="1337" height="752" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6hw-peedELU" title="⁠LIVE: Sandiganbayan orders arrest of Senator Rodante Marcoleta over plunder charges | July 6, 2026" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></em></div><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><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1991503208213860%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=233&amp;t=0" width="233" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, 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><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="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XoYjjc_RPBw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Marcoleta was arrested hours before the Senate <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. </a></p><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 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 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 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 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 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><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/senate-impeachment-court-begins-historic-sara-duterte-trial-0848">Senate impeachment court all set for historic Sara Duterte trial </a><br/><a href="http://Senate impeachment court all set for historic Sara Duterte trial">Evidence is focus of House prosecution in 1st week of Sara Duterte trial </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/5/who-will-defend-vp-sara-in-the-impeachment-trial-get-to-know-her-lawyers-1127">Who will defend VP Sara in the impeachment trial? Get to know her lawyers </a></div><div><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</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 placed in custody Monday for after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest for non-bailable plunder charges over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations. </p>

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was placed in custody Monday for after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest for non-bailable plunder charges over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations.

Marcoleta in custody after arrest warrant issued for plunder case

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Marcoleta in custody after arrest warrant issued for plunder case

Kaxandra Salonga,

Daniza Fernandez,

Izzy Lee,

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 06, 2026 10:23 AM PHT

|

Updated July 06, 2026 12:04 PM PHT

Read More:

Marcoleta

arrest

plunder

Sandiganbayan

Senate

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