Marcoleta says P75M plunder complaint aimed to silence his voice

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said in a privilege speech that the plunder and indirect bribery complaint against him was meant to silence him from speaking about the flood control anomalies and ahead of the impeachment trial of his ally, Vice President Sara Duterte.

According to Sandra Aguinaldo's report on “24 Oras” on Monday, the senator addressed the accusation of receiving P75 million from three individuals in January 2025, when he was a congressman.

“The trumped-up charges filed against me and some of my friends are not merely legal accusations. They form part of a deeper and more nefarious design— to intimidate independent voices, to punish dissent, and to warn every senator that the price of asking hard questions could lead to personal damnation,” Marcoleta said.

“If the intention of these cases is to silence me, let me say this at the beginning. It has failed. I will not be silenced,” he added.

In the investigation of the Field Investigation Bureau of the Office of the Ombudsman, Marcoleta had allegedly admitted that he received the money when he was first asked by the Commission on Elections.

The vast amount of P75 million cannot be considered as a mere act of generosity, but a corruption to get favors from the senator, according to the investigation bureau.

The investigation also alleged that Marcoleta did not declare the cash in his 2025 Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth or SALN.

The senator said he will respond to the allegation in “a proper forum.”

“Someone said sometimes you need to bend the law. Am I right, Secretary Remulla, now, Ombudsman?” Marcoleta said in his privilege speech addressing Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla.

“Sabi niya yes, sir. So kaya nilang baluktutin lahat (He said, ‘Yes, sir.’ So they can twist everything). They can imprison me, they can arrest me, but they will not win. Itaga nila yan sa bato (remember that),” he added.

Majority senators

Marcoleta is among the eight majority senators who are currently facing charges, complaints, and are under investigation.

Senators Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and Bong Go were identified as co-perpetuators in the crimes against humanity case of former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court.

Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero is under a preliminary investigation for a plunder case at the Office of the Ombudsman in relation to the flood control scandal.

Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada was recommended by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be charged with plunder and graft charges for his alleged involvement in an anomalous flood control project.

Still in connection with the flood control mess, the Sandigabayan is reviewing the recommendation by the DOJ to charge Senator Joel Villanueva with corruption.

Simultaneously, the Villar siblings, Senators Mark and Camille, are included in the ongoing investigation of the DOJ on the alleged involvement of their family businesses in market manipulation and insider trading, among others.

Senator Imee Marcos had previously said that the majority were allegedly receiving threats to join the minority bloc and reclaim the Senate presidency. –Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/NB, GMA News