Senator Reiterates Political Persecution Claim as Ombudsman Case Reaches Sandiganbayan
By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Senator Rodante Marcoleta has chosen not to issue a new public statement following the filing of plunder and related criminal charges against him before the Sandiganbayan, saying his position remains unchanged from the remarks he delivered during the recent rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).
According to his office, the senator believes he has already fully addressed the allegations and sees no reason to release another statement after the Office of the Ombudsman elevated the case to the anti-graft court.
During the INC gathering, Marcoleta declared that he was ready to face imprisonment should authorities order his arrest, insisting that he was willing to accept the consequences if it meant defending what he described as justice and the welfare of the Filipino people.
The senator maintained that he has nothing to fear and would confront the legal process head-on.
Marcoleta continued to reject allegations that he amassed ill-gotten wealth, arguing that the money cited in the complaint consisted of campaign support voluntarily extended by private individuals using their personal funds.
He stressed that the financial assistance was intended to support his successful Senate bid and did not involve government resources or public money.
The senator has repeatedly argued that the accusations are inconsistent with the nature of the funds involved and should not be equated with corruption.
Marcoleta likewise renewed his claim that the criminal complaint was driven by politics rather than evidence.
He questioned why authorities had chosen to prosecute him while, according to him, individuals allegedly responsible for the misuse of government funds have yet to face similar legal action.
The senator has previously linked the timing of the case to his participation in issues involving the investigation of alleged irregularities in government flood-control projects and the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Office of the Ombudsman formally filed plunder and other criminal complaints against Marcoleta and three co-accused before the Sandiganbayan on Friday, alleging violations arising from an undeclared P75 million that the senator earlier acknowledged receiving from three private individuals.
With the filing of the complaint, the controversy now moves from the political arena to the judicial process, where the anti-graft court will determine whether the prosecution has sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Marcoleta, like all accused persons, is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
ia/xf
