A criminal case for plunder is set to be filed within the week against Senator Rodante Marcoleta over his alleged receipt of campaign donations in 2025, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday.

Remulla said the charge stemmed from Marcoleta’s alleged non-disclosure of P75-million in “gifts” in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN). The funds reportedly came from former congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray.

The donations were previously raised in a complaint before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) which ruled that they did not constitute an election offense, despite concerns over their non-inclusion in Marcoleta’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

While the Comelec cleared Marcoleta on that specific issue, it said it would still look into the failure of Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray to properly report their contributions within the required period.

For its part, the Ombudsman said its probe focused on both the alleged non-disclosure and possible violations under the anti-plunder law, which treats the receipt of gifts or pecuniary benefits by public officials as a potential source of ill-gotten wealth.

At the time the donations were allegedly made in early 2025, Marcoleta was still a member of the House of Representatives. Shortly after, he was elected to the Senate.

Under the anti-plunder law, ill-gotten wealth may include any public official who “receives, directly or indirectly, any commission, gift, share, percentage, kickback or any other form of pecuniary benefit,” in connection with government-related matters or by reason of his office.

Marcoleta has denied the allegations, calling the complaints “trumped up” and lacking legal basis. He also suggested the cases may be linked to his involvement in the flood control investigation and the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on 6 July.

“They form part of a deeper and more nefarious design: to intimidate independent voices, to punish dissent, and to warn every senator that the price for asking hard questions could lead to personal damnation,” he said in an earlier statement.

Marcoleta has yet to comment on the latest development.