Marcoleta co-host seeks exemption from testifying in P75-M plunder case

Sen. Rodante Marcoleta INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s co-host in the television show where he tackled the alleged P75 million donation, which is now the subject of his plunder case, asked if he could be excused in testifying before the Sandiganbayan’s Third Division. Witness Nelson Lubao, through his counsel, filed a manifestation with motion to be excused as witness for Marcoleta’s bail hearing, which was received by the anti-graft court on Sept. 9, Wednesday. Prosecutor Joshua Tan brought this matter to the court’s attention during Thursday’s bail hearing, saying that the prosecution is proposing for stipulation stating that the link of a video containing Marcoleta’s remarks is authentic. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Marcoleta himself reveals donors to Comelec, says poll body exec “Lubao can be excused because that is the only matter by which he can testify,” Tan told the court. Marcoleta’s counsel David Gabriel said “we cannot stipulate” on the matter. This manifestation was adopted by the counsels of Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray. With this development, Lubao will still be expected to testify. Article continues after this advertisement Marcoleta, his donors former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray, face plunder raps over a P75 million campaign donation that the senator received while he was a sitting lawmaker — representing Sagip party-list. According to prosecutors, this was not declared in the senator’s financial and campaign disclosures, and is a violation of provisions in Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which prohibits officials from receiving gifts. Article continues after this advertisement In his TV program on Nov. 8, 2025, Marcoleta admitted his “friends” gave him campaign contributions, in condition that their identities would not be disclosed. Marcoleta said at that time in Filipino: “My friends really gave me contributions. Do you know what their only request was? Just one: ‘Please accept our help’ — I was a congressman then — ‘Cong, we believe you deserve to reach the Senate, please accept this amount.’ There were many of them. They only had one request of me: that I would not disclose their identities.” This prompted the Commission on Elections’ political finance and affairs department (PFAD) to conduct a fact-finding probe. The identities of the donors were not known by the PFAD at that time, according to one of its members Victoria Kadeja Besinio. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. It was Marcoleta, in his verified position paper, who disclosed the identity of Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray attaching their tax returns and bank payment slips in the document. /mr