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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcoleta gaslighting once again over 'planned arrest' claim—Lacson

Marcoleta gaslighting once again over 'planned arrest' claim—Lacson

Published Jun 30, 2026 09:38 am

At A Glance

  • Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has called out Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for claiming that his impending arrest over plunder charges is linked to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

It's gaslighting time once more.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Rodante Marcoleta (Senate PRIB photo)

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said this on Tuesday, June 30, as he called out Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for claiming that his impending arrest over plunder charges is linked to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

This, after Marcoleta claimed that the case against him had long been planned, citing Lacson's remarks weeks earlier that nine more senators could be arrested and jailed.

“It’s gaslighting time once more. The mention of nine senators being possibly incarcerated was a hypothetical statement in the context of determining the base number to compute the constitutional requirement of 2/3 vote of all senators actively participating or not in the impeachment trial,” Lacson said.

Earlier, Lacson had voiced concern that the Supreme Court may need to intervene to address the possible “absurdity” of the Impeachment Court being reduced to a mere formality for the acquittal of the vice president if at least nine (9) out of 24 senator-judges were hypothetically detained or suspended.

He cited the case of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada who is now detained at the Quezon City Jail and is facing a 90-day preventive suspension order issued by the Sandiganbayan in connection with his alleged involvement in the flood control scandal.

Lacson, in an interview last June 18, said the impeachment trial against the vice president may not be practical if only 15 senator-judges can vote, when 16 votes are needed to convict.

“The trial could be reduced to a formality for acquittal. So the SC may need to intervene,” Lacson had then said.

In a Facebook post early this morning Tuesday, Marcoleta claimed the plunder case that the Office of the Ombudsman is preparing to file against him before the Sandiganbayan aims to stop him from exposing corruption and taking part in the impeachment trial which starts July 6.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the case against Marcoleta is “for resolution” and they are “about to file it already.”

The charges stemmed from Marcoleta’s alleged failure to disclose the P75-million in gifts or donations that he received from Mike Defensor, a former lawmaker, and two businessmen during the 2025 midterm elections, when he was then still a member of the House of Representatives.

In his show aired on Net25 last Nov. 8, 2025, Marcoleta admitted that his friends “really gave me contributions” and that their only request was that he “would not disclose their identities.”

Reportedly, Marcoleta did not declare the P75-million donation in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

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