Comelec to issue SCO vs Marcoleta over non-disclosure of 2025 campaign donors

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will direct Senator Rodante Marcoleta to explain the alleged non-disclosure of some election donors in his statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) for the 2025 May elections, poll chief George Erwin Garcia said Wednesday.

In an interview, Garcia said the Comelec is set to issue a show-cause order (SCO) to Marcoleta next week to also seek his explanation over the alleged discrepancy between his SOCE and  statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).

"Para may venue ng pagpapaliwanag at matingnan ang mga documents, magi-issue kami ng show cause order (We will issue a SCO to provide a venue for him to explain and check the documents)," Garcia told reporters.

"Marapat gawin ito para hingan namin siya ng paliwanag tutal naman ang SALN ay public na e. May kopya naman kami ng SOCE," Garcia said.

(We need to do this besides we have a copy of his SOCE and his SALN is already public.)

Marcoleta previously admitted that he did not declare the contributions he received for the 2025 May elections in his SOCE as his donors requested anonymity. Based on his SOCE, the solon spent P139.9 million for his campaign in the midterm elections, higher than his declared SALN of P51,965,559.

"Siya din nagsabi na dahilan bakit hindi nailagay... Tiningnan namin at nakita na 'yung amount na mentioned na gastos ay 'yun talaga naman. Kung san galing or paano pinanggalingan, 'yun ang gusto namin malaman," said Garcia.

(He already explained why he failed to include the donors. We checked his election spending and it was accurate. Now, we want to see where the money came from.)

"Nasa Omnibus Election Code, Section 99 na dapat mga kandidato dapat mag-report sa atin, lalo na mga binigay at gastos nung panahon ng campaign period. Maganda talaga magkaron ng paliwanagan. Kung may ganyang controversy, maganda malaman din natin," he said.

(Under Sec 99 of the OEC, candidates should report to us their expenditures during the campaign period. It is better to allow them to explain.)

Those who will be found guilty of putting wrong information on their SOCE may face perjury raps, Garcia added.

GMA Integrated News reached out to Marcoleta for comment and will publish it once available.   

Escudero

Meanwhile, the Comelec said it may release its disposition into the case of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero next week.

"May recommendation na ang PFAD. 'Yung en banc members bibigyan din ng pagkakataon mareview ang recommendation," said Garcia.

(The PFAD already issued a recommendation. We are now allowing the en banc members to review it.)

"Hindi lalampas ang Miyerkules ng susunod na linggo, hopefully magkaroon ng disposisyon ang Comelec sa bagay na 'yan," he said.

(Maybe by Wednesday next week, the Comelec will issue its disposition on the matter.)

It can be recalled that the poll body issued SCOs against Escudero and Centerways Construction and Development Inc. President Lawrence Lubiano asking them to explain the P30 million worth of donations the solon received from the contractor for his 2022 senatorial bid.  This is despite a provision in the OEC prohibiting government contractors from donating in election campaigns.—AOL, GMA Integrated News 

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.