Senator Marcoleta claims looming plunder case meant to keep him out of VP impeachment trial

Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday rejected the plunder case that the Office of the Ombudsman plans to file against him, claiming it was intended to prevent him from participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement issued a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla announced that a plunder case would be filed before the Sandiganbayan this week, Marcoleta described the move as part of a planned effort to silence him and other individuals exposing alleged corruption.

"If I am arrested, that will no longer push through. They think this issue will simply be buried in oblivion," Marcoleta said in Filipino.

He also claimed the timing of the case was meant to keep him from taking part in the impeachment proceedings scheduled to begin next week.

"In other words, two birds with one stone," he said.

Marcoleta argued that while charges were being pursued against him, those he described as being behind alleged irregularities had yet to face prosecution. He also pointed to an earlier complaint against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and criticized authorities for allegedly using a former Department of Public Works and Highways official as a state witness.

The senator further alleged that the filing of the case had been planned in advance, citing remarks previously made by Sen. Ping Lacson suggesting that more senators could face imprisonment.

Despite the looming charges, Marcoleta said he would continue serving the public and insisted that his only "offense" was standing up for the truth.

"I knew they would do this. I knew they would arrest me. I knew they would imprison me. But that is not a reason for me to stop serving you," he said.

Marcoleta also accused Ombudsman Remulla of promoting what he described as a willingness to "bend the law," recalling an exchange during a Senate hearing, and urged the public to continue fighting for what he called truth and justice.

Remulla announced on Monday that the Office of the Ombudsman would file a plunder case against Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan this week.

-Paraluman News