Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Wednesday entered a not guilty plea before the Sandiganbayan Third Division in connection with a plunder case involving the alleged receipt of ₱75 million in campaign contributions in 2025.

During the hearing, Marcoleta and his legal team also withdrew their motion to quash the information, which had sought to have the case dismissed.

The senator appeared alongside businessman Joseph Espiritu for their arraignment on separate charges of violating Presidential Decree No. 46. Both pleaded not guilty to the PD 46 offense.

Earlier, Marcoleta’s co-accused in the plunder case including former lawmaker Mike Defensor, Espiritu, and businessman Aristotle Viray had likewise entered not guilty pleas.

Pretrial proceedings are expected to follow the arraignment.

This is a developing story.