If not election contribution, what’s Marcoleta’s P75 M?

Comelec cleared Sen. Rodante Marcoleta of undeclared campaign contributions in Election 2025. But the poll body’s conclusion points to worse crime. Let’s follow its logic:

• Marcoleta accepted the P75 million a month before the senatorial campaign started on Feb. 11, 2025. Technically, Comelec claimed, he wasn’t a candidate then because the campaign had not begun. That’s despite his filing of candidacy in October 2024.

• Besides, Comelec added, Congress had decriminalized in 1991 the non-filing of Statements of Contributions and Expenditures.

• Marcoleta was SAGIP party-list congressman from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2025. As such, he was bound by the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Also the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

• So why did he accept P75 million in January 2025? If not a campaign contribution, then what was it?

• Aren’t government officials generally prohibited from accepting gifts in excess of P500? Isn’t P75 million 150,000 times more excessive than the P500 limit?

• Shouldn’t Comelec therefore refer the matter to the ombudsman for investigation and prosecution?

• Shouldn’t the contributors – ex-Rep. Mike Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, Aristotle Baluyut Viray – be charged with bribery?

Comelec in fact recommended raps against the trio. But only for undeclared contributions to Marcoleta. Not bribery. It said the law still penalizes contributors for failure to declare within 30 days of the election.

Photo from Philippine News Agency

Defensor publicly ranted against Comelec’s double standard. He likened themselves to porch climbers: “Parang akyat bahay, ‘di ba? Tinulungan mong maka-akyat. ‘Yung pumasok sa bahay, walang kaso. ‘Yung nagtulak paakyat, may kaso. Bakit gan’un?”

Comelec ruled 6-0-1. Chairman George Garcia abstained as Marcoleta’s former election lawyer.

Still it copped out. Same way it did in other cases against powerful politicos.

In November 2025 Comelec hastily exonerated Sen. Chiz Escudero of P30-million illegal campaign contribution from public works contractor Lawrence Lubiano. Supposedly Lubiano contributed in Election 2022 in his personal capacity, not as 99-percent owner of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.

The law forbids candidates from accepting donations from government contractors, suppliers and franchisees. Accepters can be removed and perpetually barred from office. Givers can be fined and jailed.

Comelec adopted recommendations of its Political Finance and Affairs Department. It found no proof that the P30 million given by Lubiano to Escudero was part of P19-billion flood works by Centerways before and after 2022. Of the constructor’s 258 government contracts, 237 are in Escudero’s Sorsogon province or elsewhere in Bicol region.

Government classifies contractors by capitalization and track record. Corporations, not individuals, invariably are awarded contracts.

Comelec ignored that truism. Its ruling rendered inutile the law on illegal campaign contributions. Politicos are now free to take money from ubiquitous “kontratistas” in barangay, municipal and city halls, provincial capitols, Congress and Malacañang.

Chairman Garcia was also Escudero’s former election lawyer. But it was Commissioner Rey Bulay who affirmed the ruling.

Comelec refused to handle the overstaying case in July 2025 of Rep. Yedda Romualdez, wife of then-Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Constitution and election law limit House members to three consecutive terms. Yedda was Leyte 1st District congresswoman in 2016-2019. She then sat as Tingog party-list in 2019-2022 and 2022-2025. She should’ve termed out.

But in Election 2025, she again ran as Tingog sixth nominee. Son Andrew Romualdez and Jude Acidre won as first and second nominees. The third, fourth and fifth nominees suddenly resigned from the party. Yedda ascended as third party rep last July 18, to serve a fourth consecutive term till 2028.

Garcia ignored complaints. Supposedly only Congress, not Comelec, has the power to determine who will sit.

Garcia did not explain why Comelec allowed Yedda’s party nomination to begin with. Comelec set another precedent for House members to sit beyond three consecutive terms so long as they alternate by district and party-list.

Garcia may not be the Romualdez’s former election lawyer. But he was of their highest political ally, cousin President Bongbong Romualdez Marcos.

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