MANILA, Philippines (AP) — In a significant turn of events for the Philippine government, Senator Rodante Marcoleta was arrested on allegations of plunder, adding to a growing list of lawmakers implicated in corruption scandals over recent weeks. The senator, who maintains his innocence, was taken into custody at the Sandiganbayan special anti-graft court located in suburban Quezon City after appearing alongside his lawyers to contest the charges and request a delay in the execution of his arrest.
Senator Marcoleta, 71, addressed reporters outside the courtroom, urging respect for the court's decision, which mandated his arrest based on preliminary findings related to the accusations against him. Notably, charges of plunder in the Philippines are non-bailable, and he was subsequently escorted away by police officers.
Marcoleta is affiliated with the Iglesia ni Cristo, a religious group known for its substantial influence and ability to mobilize large gatherings. The church orchestrated a three-day rally, attended by over 15,000 members, at a prominent Manila democracy shrine to express their opposition to the filed charges and his imminent arrest, resulting in significant traffic disruptions throughout the area.
In light of the protest and its potential ramifications, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. canceled two scheduled official engagements. The Office of the Ombudsman, which acts as a special anti-graft prosecutor, had filed the plunder charge against Marcoleta last week, alleging that he received 75 million pesos (approximately $1.2 million) in campaign contributions from three supporters that were not declared in his asset statement, contravening legal requirements.
Marcoleta's arrest follows closely on the heels of Senator Jinggoy Estrada's detention, who was arrested in early June on similar non-bailable charges of plunder. Estrada is accused of receiving over 570 million pesos (around $9.3 million) in kickbacks from flood-control projects, allegations he vehemently denies, attributing them primarily to accusations made by a former public works engineer.
Both Marcoleta and Estrada are known political allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte, along with Vice President Sara Duterte, who is set to face an impeachment trial in the Senate later this week. Sara Duterte was impeached by a significant majority vote from the House of Representatives in May, facing allegations of accumulating undeclared wealth and making public threats against the sitting president, which she has denied.
Furthermore, Ronald dela Rosa, another senator and a staunch supporter of the Duterte administration, has reportedly gone into hiding following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is charged as a co-perpetrator in the anti-drug campaign that resulted in numerous fatalities among mostly impoverished individuals during Duterte's presidency. Dela Rosa was the national police chief at the time and is described as one of the first enforcers of the controversial anti-drug operations.
Former President Duterte himself was arrested last year under ICC orders and is slated to face trial in the Netherlands on November 30 for alleged crimes against humanity related to the infamous crackdown.
