Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said that as of Saturday, July 4, embattled Senator Rodante Marcoleta may still join the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Gatchalian, in a radio interview, acknowledged Marcoleta's current legal woes, particularly his plunder charge from the Office of the Ombudsman.

However, the Senate leader was adamant against preempting any future action from the chamber in case Marcoleta's case develops.

The senators are tasked to serve as judges in the impeachment trial. Asked if Marcoleta would still be allowed to participate, Gatchalian gave a positive response.

"For now, dahil senator pa siya at wala naman linalabas na desisyon. So aantayin natin kung ano yung magiging desisyon ng Sandigan," Gatchalian said.

(For now, because he's a Senator and no decision has been reached yet. So we will wait for the decision of Sandiganbyan.)

The Sandiganbyan anti-graft court will carry out the trial against Marcoleta. Before this, it is expected to issue a warrant of arrest against the senator.

In case this happens, Marcoleta's capacity to take part in Vice President Duterte's trial--which would begin Monday, July 6--would be questioned by the prosecutors.

"We cannot preempt. Korte ito eh...Sandigan is a court. So we cannot preempt kung ano yung kanyang gagawin o ano yung kanyang magiging desisyon," Gatchalian said when asked about the potential release of an arrest warrant.

(We cannot preempt. Korte ito eh...Sandigan is a court. So we cannot preempt whatever it will do or whatever decision that it makes.)

Two other incumbent senators--Jinggoy Estrada and Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa-- have compromised capacity to fulfill their roles as senator-judges, no thanks to their respective charges.

Estrada is detained with a plunder charge, while Dela Rosa is in hiding due to an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Pressed to comment on what if scenarios involving Marcoleta, Gatchalian flatly refused to speculate or answer hypothetical questions.

At any rate, he said Marcoleta was very much in the thick of the judicial process, where he has legal remedies.

"Very sensitive ito. Ang status ngayon ay si Senator Marcoleta ay merong opportunity na magbigay ng kanyang defense at magpaliwanag sa korte, hindi naman ibig sabihin pag final sa korte, automatic may warrant of arrest. Ito ang ating judicial process," Gatchalian said.

(This is very sensitive. The current status is that Senator Marcoleta has the opportunity to present his defense and explain before the court. It does not mean that once the court issues a final ruling, a warrant of arrest is automatically issued. This is our judicial process.)

"So, mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon para maghahain ang kanyang mga depensa at papakinggan ng Sandigan kung ano ang kanyang depensa at dito gagawa ng desisyon," added the Senate leader.

(So, he will be given the chance to submit his defenses, which the Sandiganbayan will hear, and from there a decision will be made..)

The Constitution says a two-thirds vote or 16 out of the 24 sitting senators is needed to convict an impeachable officer in a Senate impeachment trial.

Marcoleta, Estrada, and Dela are all perceived to be Duterte allies.

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against Marcoleta and three others over some P75 million in undeclared campaign contributions for his 2025 senatorial campaign.