The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Tuesday, June 30, defended Sen. Rodante Marcoleta after the Office of the Ombudsman announced it would file a plunder case against him.

INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala read the church's statement during a Net 25 program on Tuesday as the Iglesia ni Cristo held an emergency rally in EDSA, a day after the Office of the Ombudsman announced it would file plunder charges against Marcoleta.

“Hindi tutol ang Iglesia Ni Cristo sa pagpapatupad ng batas, pero tutol kami sa pagbaluktot sa batas, lalo na kung ang layunin ay para pagtakpan ang katiwalian (The Iglesia ni Cristo is not against the enforcement of the law, but we oppose the distortion of the law, especially when its purpose is to cover up corruption),” he said.

The church said Marcoleta led the investigation into one of the biggest plunder cases in the country's history while he was chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

Although he was later replaced as committee chair, it said he continued pursuing the issue and seeking justice.

“Ang ipinagtataka namin ay kung bakit siya na nagsusulong sa pag-expose ng mga sangkot sa napakalaking pagnanakaw sa Pilipinas ang kakasuhan at ipakukulong sa halip na ang mga na-expose (What puzzles us is why the one pushing to expose those behind the massive theft in the Philippines is the one being charged and jailed instead of those who were exposed),” Zabala said.

The INC said filing a non-bailable plunder case against Marcoleta would keep him in detention while the case is being tried and prevent him from continuing to expose those allegedly involved.

Zabala also questioned the basis of the charge, saying Marcoleta's campaign donations came from supporters and not from government funds.

He added that the Commission on Elections had already ruled that no crime had been committed in relation to the donations.

The church said it supports Marcoleta's position, saying it also seeks “transparency, accountability, justice, and peace.”

“Nananawagan kami para sa transparency, accountability, justice, and peace. Kaya nais naming iparinig sa mga kinauukulan na kahit ipakulong nila si Sen. Marcoleta, ay hindi kami titigil sa paghingi ng katarungan para sa mga kababayan natin na ninakawan. Gusto naming ipaalam sa kanila na isang injustice ang selective justice (We call for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace. We want those concerned to know that even if they imprison Sen. Marcoleta, we will not stop seeking justice for our fellow Filipinos who were robbed. We want them to know that selective justice is an injustice),” Zabala said.

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