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Sen. Rodante Marcoleta moves to place Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa under Senate protective custody during the plenary session on Monday, May 11, 2026. Wendell Alinea,  Senate Social Media Unit

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<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/177969396484920260512-senate-coup-marcoleta-SSMU2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. <em>Wendell Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Monday questioned the timing of the reported recommendation to file plunder and indirect bribery charges against him, saying these were aimed at punishing dissent and served as a warning to every senator.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/23/comelec-ready-to-coordinate-with-ombudsman-on-plunder-indirect-bribery-cases-vs-marcoleta-1658">READ: Comelec ready to ‘coordinate’ with Ombudsman on plunder, indirect bribery cases vs. Marcoleta</a></div><p>&quot;The complaint arrived while the Senate is confronted with uncomfortable truths: namely, the pending continuation of the investigation of the anomalous flood control projects, the approaching constitutional burden of an impeachment trial, and the growing pressure upon its institution to surrender its independence through political maneuvering disguised as constitutional reform,&quot; Marcoleta said in a privileged speech.</p><p>&quot;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 would lead to personal damnation,&quot; he said.</p><p>The Office of the Ombudsman has reportedly recommended the filing of plunder and indirect bribery charges against, with the Commission on Elections on Saturday expressing its readiness to help.</p><p>This, even after the poll body cleared Marcoleta of election offense last March. Nonetheless, the Comelec also ordered the filing of complaints against three of his alleged 2025 campaign donors, including former congressman Mike Defensor. </p><p>It stemmed from Marcoleta’s admission in a television interview that he did not disclose campaign contributions from his friends during the 2025 midterm elections because they had wanted to remain anonymous.</p><p>Marcoleta said that if the Ombudsman&#x27;s intention is to silence him, then it has failed.</p><p>&quot;A senator is not elected to be timid. A senator is not sworn into office to become a spectator while the Constitution is tested, while impeachment proceedings demand judgment, and while the people cry out for truth about the widescale theft of public funds. Instead, a senator is elected to stand, to examine, to question, to decide, and, when necessary, to resist. This is what I intend to do,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;And if that warning was meant for me, then the answer is very clear: it failed. The complaint against me speaks of amounts. It speaks of dates. It speaks of suspicion. But suspicion is not evidence. Amount is not corruption. Political inconvenience is not probable cause. And accusation, no matter how loudly repeated, is not proof. It is a theater. It is pressure. It is machination,&quot; he added.</p><p>Marcoleta also questioned the premise of the complaint.</p><p>&quot;I speak again, clearly and directly: What official act did I sell? What vote did I promise? What public fund did I touch? What government contract was delivered? What favor was asked, promised, or given? If they cannot answer these questions, then this complaint is not the pursuit of justice. It is a deliberate attempt to silence dissent,&quot; he said. -- with a report from Harlene Delgado, ABS-CBN News</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH MARCOLETA&#x27;S SPEECH:</strong></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/yVNmp3B2Yz8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Monday questioned the timing of plunder charges against him, saying they were aimed at punishing dissent and served as a warning to every senator.</p>

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Monday questioned the timing of plunder charges against him, saying they were aimed at punishing dissent and served as a warning to every senator.

Marcoleta says 'trumped-up' plunder raps meant to 'punish dissent'

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Marcoleta says 'trumped-up' plunder raps meant to 'punish dissent'

ABS-CBN News

Published May 25, 2026 03:39 PM PHT

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Updated May 25, 2026 04:55 PM PHT

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Rodante Marcoleta

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