MANILA – Sen. Rodante Marcoleta may still participate in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte unless the Sandiganbayan issues an order suspending him from office, several senators said, despite the plunder case filed against him.

In a report, Sen. Erwin Tulfo said Marcoleta remains a senator and may continue performing his duties unless the court orders otherwise.

Marcoleta is facing a non-bailable plunder charge before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division over the alleged non-disclosure of P75 million in campaign contributions during the 2025 elections.

“He’s still a senator, kung may warrant, he has the right to appear before the trial. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi unless may nakalagay na suspension like Senator Jinggoy na suspended siya,” Tulfo said in an interview with DZMM Teleradyo.

“Si Senator Marcoleta hangga’t walang suspension order he can still attend,” he added.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, said Marcoleta should first be given the opportunity to answer the charges before the court.

“Ang status ngayon ay si Senator Marcoleta ay mayroong opportunity na magbigay ng kanyang depensa at magpaliwanag sa korte,” Gatchalian said.

He stressed that the filing of charges does not automatically result in the issuance of an arrest warrant.

“Hindi naman ibig sabihin pag-finile sa korte, automatic may warrant of arrest. Ito ang ating judicial process. So, mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon para maghain ang kanyang mga depensa at papakinggan ng Sandiganbayan,” he said.

Gatchalian also declined to speculate on how the Senate would respond if the anti-graft court eventually issues an arrest warrant.

“Sandiganbayan is a court. We cannot preempt kung ano yung kanyang gagawin o ano yung kanyang magiging desisyon,” he said.

Lawyer Dino de Leon, who earlier filed a disqualification case against Marcoleta before the Commission on Elections, argued that the senator should be automatically suspended once an arrest warrant is issued.

He also said Marcoleta’s office should cease operations while he is under suspension.

De Leon dismissed claims that the timing of the case was politically motivated, saying the evidence should remain the central issue.

“The timing is right cause it’s pretty recent. Buti nga naifile na. Ngayon may koneksyon ba ito sa impeachment o wala? Sa’kin, regardless. Non-issue. Balik tayo sa ebidensya,” he said.

He added that the plunder case was based primarily on Marcoleta’s own statements made during a television interview.

“Lagi kasi sasabihin pulitika lang yan, whether political or not, let’s take a look at the evidence,” he added.

Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the executive branch would not interfere in the judicial process.

“Walang pag-iimpluwensya, walang pambabraso, walang pagpressure ang gagawin ng ehekutibo dahil ang Pangulo iginagalang ang korte,” Castro said during a briefing in Vancouver, Canada.

Marcoleta earlier claimed that the charges were filed to prevent him from participating as a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte.