Comelec zeroes in on Marcoleta

Opposition Senator Rodante Marcoleta has been issued a show-cause order by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), giving him 10 days to explain the alleged omission of his campaign donors and an alleged anomaly in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SoCE).

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is conducting a motu proprio investigation, in the absence of a complaint, of Marcoleta.

The announcement of the probe came as the rift between the administration and its political opponents has widened amid revelations implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the flood control corruption scandal. 

“Just like in other cases, the Comelec has committed itself to initiating a fact-finding investigation,” Garcia said.

Garcia said the Comelec had reviewed the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of Marcoleta and found alleged discrepancies after it was compared with his SoCE. 

“What is now needed is his explanation for why there were such discrepancies, and why there was no revelation of the names of his contributors or donors,” Garcia added.

Gov’t contractors barred

In its review of documents connected to the 2022 national elections, the Comelec found about 54 government contractors who made donations and contributions to several candidates, “for the position of president, vice president, senator, down to vice governor,” Garcia revealed.

For the recent 2025 midterm elections, Garcia said about 31 contractors contributed funds to the campaigns of individual candidates, political parties, and party-list groups. 

The Omnibus Election Code prohibits government contractors, especially for public works and services, from making donations to political candidates. 

“We are now waiting for the confirmation of the Department of Public Works and Highways on the 31 alleged contractors who made contributions for the 2025 national and local elections,” Garcia said.

He said that based on Marcoleta’s SALN and SoCE, there was a difference of about P50 million in his election spending, so the presumption was that no contributions were made, that he used his personal funds. 

While the Comelec has initiated a probe, it asked the public to refrain from drawing conclusions about the discrepancies. 

“We do not want to speculate. Maybe it was borrowed, that’s why the explanation is very important. The reason why we are inquiring into this issue is that in the future, we can prevent a similar occurrence or issue,” Garcia said.

Garcia cited a precedent when a candidate violated the elections law. 

 “In 2010, after the national elections, a former senator, Serge Osmeña, did not submit his SoCE. At the end of the day, the Comelec barred Osmeña from assuming office until he complied,” he recalled.