Marcoleta: Plunder case meant to keep me off Duterte impeach trial

(Screengrabbed from Senator Rodante Marcoleta / Facebook)

WATCH: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1NaCPAHMSw/

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday alleged that the impending plunder case against him was part of a coordinated effort to prevent him from participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is set to begin on July 6.

Article continues after this advertisement

Marcoleta claimed that his possible arrest would prevent him from pursuing what he described as efforts to uncover the truth and hold certain individuals accountable.

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

“But if they arrest me, it will no longer push through. They think it will simply be buried and forgotten,” Marcoleta said in Filipino in a video posted on his Facebook page.

“Ang isa pa pong inaasahan nila ay hindi na po ako makakasali doon sa impeachment proceedings na nakatakda pong magsimula sa susunod na linggo. Samakatuwid, dalawang ibon sa isang putok,” he said.

READ: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2254533/remulla-plunder-raps-to-be-filed-vs-marcoleta-in-sandiganbayan

“Another thing they are hoping for is that I will no longer be able to participate in the impeachment proceedings scheduled to begin next week. In other words, they are hitting two  birds with one stone,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement

In a statement released a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said plunder charges would be filed against him before the Sandiganbayan, Marcoleta suggested that the filing of charges had been planned in advance, citing Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s earlier remark that several senators could face criminal charges.

“So it’s very clear that this was planned. Two weeks before the Ombudsman made his announcement, Ping Lacson had already said that around nine more senators would end up in jail. It was as if he already knew what was going to happen,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

Marcoleta likewise questioned Remulla’s impartiality, recalling an exchange during a Senate hearing in which, according to him, the Ombudsman agreed with the statement that “sometimes we have to bend the law.”

On Monday, Remulla said the Office of the Ombudsman was set to file a non-bailable plunder case against Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan in connection with the alleged P75 million in campaign donations the senator received.

Marcoleta has denied wrongdoing, maintaining that the donations were private funds and had already been spent for election-related purposes before his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) was filed. /gsg

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.