Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Monday denounced as politically motivated the plunder and bribery complaints recommended against him by the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau, claiming the cases were meant to intimidate independent voices in the Senate.
In a privilege speech, he pointed out that the charges filed against him and several others were “trumped-up” and came at a time when the Senate was facing what he described as “uncomfortable truths.”
The complaints stemmed from campaign funds he allegedly received from former Rep. Mike Defensor, Joseph Espiritu, and Aristotle Viray, who were also included in the cases.
He said the timing of the complaint was questionable and appeared designed not only to target him personally, but also to weaken his independence as a senator.
“Let us not pretend that this came in a vacuum. The pattern is too visible to ignore,” he pointed out.
He claimed the filing of the charges was part of a broader effort to silence dissent, pressure senators, and discourage them from asking difficult questions ahead of major constitutional and political proceedings.
“If the intention of these cases is to silence me, let me say this at the very beginning: It has failed. I will not be silenced,” he said.
The legislator maintained that scrutinizing government actions and raising questions on public issues are part of his duty as an elected official.
“A senator is elected to stand, to examine, to question, to decide, and, when necessary, to resist. This is what I intend to do,” he said.
He said he would answer the allegations in the proper forum, but insisted that the cases were politically driven.
He likewise questioned what he described as a double standard in the application of the law, saying those who dissent are prosecuted while those close to power are spared from similar scrutiny.
“If transparency is demanded, let it be demanded of all. If public morality is the standard, let no one be exempt because of wealth, alliance, influence, or proximity to power,” he said.
He also suggested that the charges could be linked to the role of senators as judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
He noted that senator-judges must be allowed to hear evidence, apply the Constitution, and act according to conscience without fear, pressure, or harassment.
“No one should be allowed to intimidate a senator-judge into silence. No one should be allowed to punish a member of this chamber for ensuring that impeachment must be governed by law, evidence, due process, and conscience,” he said.
He added that even if the cases lead to his arrest or detention, he would not back down.
“They can imprison me, they can arrest me, but I tell them, they still will not win. Itaga nila ’yan sa bato,” the lawmaker said.