Marcoleta, along with his co-accused Joseph Espiritu, pleaded not guilty to charges of plunder and violation of the gift law before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division on Wednesday, July 22.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday cleared Sen. Rodante Marcoleta of any violation of the Omnibus Election Code, saying his failure to disclose campaign contributions in the May 2025 elections in his statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce) was no longer an election offense. However, three of the senator’s campaign donors—Michael Defensor, Joseph Espiritu