Comelec unit finds ‘inconsistencies’ in Marcoleta’s statements

MANILA, Philippines — The Political Finance and Affairs Division (PFAD) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) found “inconsistencies” between Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s statements during his TV interview, where he admitted to receiving campaign donations from “friends,” and the verified position paper he submitted to the poll body.

During Marcoleta’s trial before the Sandiganbayan Fourth Division on Wednesday on his alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, lawyer Victoria Besinio from the Comelec PFAD testified before the court as one of the prosecution’s witnesses.

The defense noted during the proceedings that Besinio cited certain inconsistencies between Macoleta’s TV remarks and his verified position paper submitted to the Comelec.

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When asked what these inconsistencies were, Besinio said Marcoleta had implied in his interview that the funds he received were donated for his campaign as a senatorial candidate in the 2025 elections.

But Marcoleta later argued in his verified position paper that the donation “could not have intended to influence the results of the electoral exercise” and were received as part of his personal funds.

Besinio, however, maintained that the PFAD made no “categorical finding” on the nature of the funds received by Marcoleta.

The senator is currently facing two counts of violating PD 46, which prohibits government officials and employees from accepting gifts, regardless of the occasion, in the anti-graft court’s First and Fourth Divisions.

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The Office of the Ombudsman filed charges of plunder and violation of PD No. 46 against the senator last July over a P75-million campaign donation that he received from three donors while he was a sitting party-list representative.

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The PFAD earlier probed Marcoleta over his alleged violation of the Omnibus Election Code after he admitted in a TV interview that he did not disclose the campaign contributions he received in his statement of contributions and expenditures because the donors asked to remain anonymous.

The Comelec unit, however, eventually terminated its investigation and cleared Marcoleta of any violation of the election code.

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In its resolution released last March, PFAD said the provision of the election code that mandates the disclosure of campaign contributions and donors is no longer considered an election offense because it was repealed by Republic Act No. 7166. /cb