Senate ethics panel urged to probe Marcoleta over 2025 campaign donations

An election watchdog on Tuesday called on the Senate ethics committee to investigate Senator Rodante Marcoleta for allegedly committing "willful and deliberate falsehood" in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for the May 2025 elections.

Kontra Daya together with the Advocates of Public Interest Law (APIL) filed a letter with the Senate committee on ethics and privileges, urging the panel to conduct a probe against Marcoleta, who stated in a television interview that he did not fully disclose his campaign donors for the May midterm elections.

"In view of these circumstances, we respectfully request that the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges initiate an inquiry into Senator Marcoleta's actions and determine the appropriate response under the Senate's rules and disciplinary authority," the letter read.

According to the groups, Marcoleta's move "raises serious questions about compliance with election law and the standards of conduct expected of a Member of the Senate of the Philippines".

"We believe that conduct of this nature is inconsistent with the standards expected of members of the Senate," the letter said.

"The public looks to its elected officials for honesty, accountability, and respect for the laws that uphold our democratic institutions. Acts that compromised these principles diminish the dignity of the Senate and weaken public confidence in its leadership," it added.

Last week, the groups also filed a perjury complaint against the lawmaker with the Ombudsman. 

To recall, Marcoleta admitted not declaring the contributions he received for the 2025 May elections in his SOCE as his donors requested anonymity.

Based on his SOCE, the lawmaker spent P139.9 million for his campaign in the midterm elections and received zero contributions.

Marcoleta, however, declared a net worth of P51.96 million. His assets total to P80,401,700, while his liabilities amount to P28,440,150.

The Comelec, in November, issued a show cause order against the lawmaker asking him to explain why he allegedly did not declare the campaign donations he received as well as the alleged discrepancy between his SOCE and and  statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). 

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