MANILA – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a non-bailable plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over the alleged receipt of PHP75 million in undeclared campaign contributions used to finance his 2025 Senate bid.

The criminal charges were filed on Friday despite protests staged in recent days by Marcoleta’s supporters led by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Aside from plunder, the Ombudsman also charged the senator with three counts of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from accepting gifts while in office.

Former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor, Joseph Esperitu and Aristotle Viray were also named as co-accused in the cases.

The plunder case was raffled to the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division, while the three counts involving alleged receipt of gifts were assigned to the First, Fourth and Sixth Divisions.

According to the report, Marcoleta declared a net worth of PHP51 million last year and reported spending PHP112 million during his senatorial campaign, in which he finished sixth in the 2025 elections.

Marcoleta said the money, released in three tranches in January that year, came from donors who chose to remain anonymous because they believed he was qualified to become a senator.