Senator Rodante Marcoleta pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to plunder and violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 46 charges during his arraignment before the Sandiganbayan Third Division.
The arraignment proceeded after Marcoleta’s camp withdrew its motion to quash the cases.
His co-accused, Joseph Varias Espiritu, also entered a not guilty plea.
The charges stem from an alleged P75-million campaign donation that Marcoleta supposedly received during his 2025 senatorial campaign but failed to declare.
According to the Office of the Ombudsman, the evidence includes three cash donations totaling P75 million, which were allegedly omitted from Marcoleta’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and campaign finance reports.
Aside from the plunder case, Marcoleta is also facing charges for allegedly violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from directly or indirectly receiving gifts, presents, or other forms of benefit in connection with the performance of their official duties.
