Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday alleged that the Office of the Ombudsman's move to file plunder charges against him is a political maneuver aimed at preventing him from participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a Facebook post on June 30, Marcoleta claimed the case was deliberately timed to stop him from taking part in the impeachment proceedings, which are scheduled to begin next week, July 6.
"Ang nakikita niyo po wala na po tayong kakampi. Ang kasalanan ko lamang po ay 'yung paglingkuran kayo, kung kasalanan pong matatawag ‘yan," Marcoleta said.
He claimed that if he is arrested, he would no longer be able to attend the impeachment trial.
"Ngunit kapag ako'y kanilang inaresto, hindi na po matutuloy ’yan. Akala po nila ay maililibing ito sa limot. Ang isa pa pong inaasahan nila ay hindi na po ako makakasali doon sa impeachment proceedings na nakatakda pong magsimula sa susunod na linggo. Samakatuwid, dalawang ibon sa isang putok, mga kababayan," he added.
The senator described Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla's actions as "planned" and politically motivated, citing an earlier remark by Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson that several more senators could face criminal charges.
"Talagang maliwanag na planado ito, mga kababayan. Kasi dalawang linggo bago nagpahayag ang ating Ombudsman, sinabi na rin ni Ping Lacson na tila siyam pa ang makukulong parang alam na niya ang mangyayari," Marcoleta said.
He added that he expects authorities to arrest and detain him but maintained that the case would not stop him from serving the public.
"Alam kong gagawin nila ito alam kong aarestuhin nila ako, alam kong ikukulong nila ako ngunit hindi po dahilan ‘yan para tumigil ako sa paglilingkod sa inyo. Kasi iisa lang ang paraan ko upang paglingkuran ang taumbayan," he said.
“Maliit na bagay po ang sakripisyo na aking haharapin. Kung ang katumbas po nito’y maipakita natin ang kahalagahan ninyo bilang mamamayan sa ating bansa,” he said.
Marcoleta also appealed to the public not to allow what he described as a distortion of the truth.
"Kahit na napakahirap na kalagayan natin na ‘to mga kababayan, pinakikiusap ko sa inyong lahat na huwag tayong pumayag na basta-basta na lang nilang baluktutin ang katwiran," he said.
The senator also questioned Remulla's impartiality, recalling a previous Senate hearing in which, according to Marcoleta, the Ombudsman agreed with the statement, "sometimes we have to bend the law."
“Alam ko po ang promotor nito ay ang ating Ombudsman sapagkat noon po kami ay nagtatatalo-talo sa bulwagan ng Senado. Isa sa amin ang nagsabi na ‘sometimes we have to bend the law.’"
"Kahit ano pong mangyari ilaban po natin ang katwiran dahil ang katwiran po ang magpapalaya sa atin. Ito ang magbibigay sa atin ng tagumpay bilang mamayan at bilang isang bansa," Marcoleta said.
On Monday, Remulla announced that his office would file plunder charges against Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan within this week.
The case stems from an alleged ₱75 million in undisclosed campaign contributions that Marcoleta allegedly received during the 2025 midterm elections. According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the alleged donations were not declared in the senator's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), forming part of the basis for the plunder complaint.
Last week, Marcoleta released a video message claiming that an arrest warrant had already been prepared against him. However, the Philippine National Police (PNP) denied the claim, saying that no arrest warrant had been issued.
