Malacañang on Tuesday questioned the real objective of the EDSA protest action, saying Senator Rodante Marcoleta has not yet been formally charged with plunder and that the case being prepared against him is based on evidence that allegedly came from his own disclosures.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Malacañang had no hand in the possible filing of charges against Marcoleta, stressing that the matter is now with the Office of the Ombudsman, an independent constitutional body.
“Ano po ba iyong pinaka-goal dito, kasi kung mangyayari po ang goal ay binabatikos nila ang maaaring ikaso kay Senator Marcoleta, hindi naman po ito hawak ng Pangulo. Hindi po ito hawak ng Pangulo, ito po ngayon ay nasa Ombudsman. (What is their ultimate goal here, because if the goal is to be achieved, they are criticizing the possible case against Senator Marcoleta, but the President does not have control over it. The President does not have control over it, it is now with the Ombudsman),” she said.
Castro said the rallyists have the right to express themselves and assemble in support of Marcoleta, but she emphasized that the exercise of such rights should not disregard or interfere with the rights of others, including workers and students affected by the surprise rally.
The protest, said to be led by the Iglesia ni Cristo, reportedly stemmed from Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s announcement that his office is set to file a non-bailable plunder case against Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the P75 million campaign donations case. Marcoleta is a member of INC.
Castro said Marcoleta had admitted receiving 75 million pesos from three donors after discrepancies were found in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth and his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.
“Kung dapat managot ang isang Senator Marcoleta na nagkataong miyembro ng INC, hindi po ba dapat na i-push din natin iyon dahil lahat naman tayo dito ay dapat na naniniwala sa pagpapanagot ng mga ‘di umanong gumawa ng krimen or paglabag sa batas (If Senator Marcoleta, who happens to be a member of the INC, should be held accountable, shouldn’t we also push for that because all of us here should believe in holding accountable those who allegedly committed no crime or violation of the law),” she said.
“Mas paniniwalaan ng Pangulo na iyon ang isususog ng INC na kahit sino pa ang makasuhan, miyembro man nila, hindi miyembro, kakulay, kaalyado, iniidolo, dapat walang ganoon. Dapat pantay-pantay at iyan din naman ang gusto ng INC (the President would rather believe that the INC would push that no matter who is charged, whether they are members, non-members, associates, allies, idols, there should be no such thing, there should be equality, and that is what the INC wants)” she added.