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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcoleta's own words caused his Ombudsman woes--Barbers

Marcoleta's own words caused his Ombudsman woes--Barbers

Published Jul 3, 2026 01:11 pm

At A Glance

  • Ex-Rep. Robert Ace Barbers says Senator Marcoleta's Ombudsman case stems from his own admission of P75 million undeclared campaign funds.
  • The Ombudsman has filed a plunder case, which Barbers stresses is separate from the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
  • He maintains Marcoleta's legal troubles are independent and both processes should proceed under the law.
Robert Ace Barbers (left), Senator Rodante Marcoleta (Facebook)
Robert Ace Barbers (left), Senator Rodante Marcoleta (Facebook)


Senator Rodante Marcoleta technically has himself to blame for his current troubles with the Office of the Ombudsman.
Such was the assessment of his former colleague over at the House of Representatives, ex-quad-committee (quad-comm) overall chairman Robert Ace Barbers.
According to Barbers, the Ombudsman has made it clear that the complaint against Marcoleta originated from the senator’s own admission that he received P75 million from three “friends” as campaign funds, but allegedly failed to declare the amount in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and his statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) in the May 2025 mid-term elections.
"Sabi ng Office of the Ombudsman, nanggaling sa kanya ang admission o revelation. At dahil sa information na yan, umakto immediately and government anti-graft body about it. So that’s another problem that must be resolved by Sen. Marcoleta," said Barbers, the newly-installed House impeachment adviser.
(The Office of the Ombudsman said the admission or revelation came from her. And because of that information, the government’s anti-graft body acted immediately on it.)
It was during the last year's polls that Marcoleta was elected senator.
On Friday, July 3, the Ombudsman filed before the Sandiganbayan a plunder case, against Marcoleta over these. undeclared donations. Plunder is a non-bailable offense.
Meanwhile, Barbers dismissed claims that the case against Marcoleta was part of a coordinated effort to prevent the senator from participating in the Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. The high-stakes trial will start on July 6.
Barbers underscored that the legal issues confronting Marcoleta stemmed from matters that are independent of the impeachment case.
“Well, nirerespeto ko yung kanyang (Marcoleta’s) opinion. In fact, karapatan niya yan na ganyan ang kanyang paniniwala. Kaibigan po natin yang si Sen. Marcoleta, Pero para sa akin, personally, walang kinalaman dito sa impeachment na ito yung kasong kakaharapin niya,” said the former three-term Surigao del Norte congressman.
(I respect Marcoleta’s opinion. In fact, it is his right to hold that belief. Sen. Marcoleta is our friend, but for me personally, the case he is facing has nothing to do with this impeachment.)
He stressed that linking Marcoleta’s legal predicament to the impeachment trial would be speculative and unsupported by the facts presented by the investigating authorities.
Barbers noted that the Senate impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Duterte should not be confused with the legal issues confronting individual senators, who will serve as judges in the trial.
He maintained that both processes should be allowed to proceed independently and in accordance with the law.

Related Tags

Rodante Marcoleta Ombudsman Plunder Robert Ace Barbers IMPEACHMENT Sara Duterte
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