MANILA – Malacañang said protest actions would not absolve Senator Rodante Marcoleta of allegations involving PHP75 million in undeclared campaign donations.

The statement came after thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo staged a rally near the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City in support of Marcoleta, describing the Office of the Ombudsman’s planned plunder case against the senator as “selective justice.”

During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects the right of INC members to assemble but questioned why such a large demonstration was held over the complaint against Marcoleta.

“Nagtataka siya dahil masasampahan ng kaso si Sen. Marcoleta or nasasangkot sa isang kaso si Sen. Marcoleta ay kailangan nang maglunsad ng ganitong kalaking rally ang mga kapatiran, ang ating iginagalang na mga kapatiran sa INC (He is wondering why the filing of a case against or the implication of Sen. Marcoleta in a case would require our respected brethren in the INC to stage a rally of this magnitude),” Castro said.

“But still, ang Pangulo po ay nakikinig at ginagalang sila. Ang tangi nating hiling ay igalang nating lahat ‘yung mga naaapektuhan na hindi dapat maapektuhan (the President is listening to and respects them. Our only appeal is that we all respect those who are affected but should not have been affected),” she added.

Castro said the President supports transparency, accountability and the rule of law but stressed that public demonstrations are not the proper means of securing an acquittal.

She also clarified that Marcos has no authority over the complaint against Marcoleta because the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Ang panawagan lang ng Pangulo, hindi lang sa mga kababayan nating naapektuhan. Doon sa mga nagra-rally. Ang pagra-rally ay hindi po sagot para mawala at maabswelto agad ang isang tao sa isang kaso. Ang pag-abswelto ng isang tao ay sa korte. Hindi po ito madadaan sa rally (Holding a rally is not the answer to make a case disappear or to immediately absolve a person. A person’s acquittal is decided in court. It cannot be achieved through a rally),” Castro said.

She also questioned why the President became the focus of the protest if its objective was to oppose the filing of charges against Marcoleta.

Asked whether Marcos was considering meeting with INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, Castro said no plans have been announced and that the President would first need to know what the group’s requests are should such a dialogue take place.

“Wala pa pong napaparating sa atin kung ano ang balak ng Pangulo patungkol dito. Siguro dapat malaman natin kung mag-uusap sila kung ano ba ang hiling. Sila naman po kasi ang nagpu-protesta. So ano po ba ang pinaka-goal dito (We have not received any information on the President’s plans regarding this. If they are to meet, we should first know what their request is. They are the ones staging the protest, so what exactly is their goal)?,” Castro said.