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Advocates Philippines
Barbers Says Marcoleta Case Unrelated To VP Duterte Trial
Photo credit: Congress PH
House prosecution panel spokesperson and impeachment trial adviser Robert Ace Barbers on Thursday dismissed claims that the reported plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is connected to the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, insisting that the two are separate legal matters.
Barbers said any case that may be filed against Marcoleta should not be viewed as an attempt to prevent the senator from taking part in the impeachment proceedings, stressing that the allegations stem from issues independent of the trial.
According to Barbers, the Office of the Ombudsman based its investigation on Marcoleta's own public admission that he received ₱75 million in campaign funds from three "friends" during the 2025 midterm elections but allegedly failed to declare the amount in both his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
“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,” Barbers said.
The former Surigao del Norte congressman said the Ombudsman merely acted on information that Marcoleta himself had publicly disclosed while serving as the representative of the Sagip Party-list.
Barbers added that, based on the Ombudsman's position, Marcoleta's own statements prompted the anti-graft body's action, making the legal proceedings a separate matter that should be resolved independently of any political developments.
“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. But this has nothing to do with the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte,” he said.
Barbers also rejected speculation that the reported case was intended to influence the Senate impeachment proceedings, saying there is no evidence to support such claims.
He maintained that the Ombudsman's actions were based on information already on public record and reiterated that the legal issues facing Marcoleta should not be confused with the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte.
“But this has nothing to do with the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte,” Barbers said.
The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court on July 6 for the start of Duterte's impeachment trial, while any criminal proceedings involving Marcoleta will follow a separate legal process under the Office of the Ombudsman and the courts.
Barbers said any case that may be filed against Marcoleta should not be viewed as an attempt to prevent the senator from taking part in the impeachment proceedings, stressing that the allegations stem from issues independent of the trial.
According to Barbers, the Office of the Ombudsman based its investigation on Marcoleta's own public admission that he received ₱75 million in campaign funds from three "friends" during the 2025 midterm elections but allegedly failed to declare the amount in both his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) and his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
“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,” Barbers said.
The former Surigao del Norte congressman said the Ombudsman merely acted on information that Marcoleta himself had publicly disclosed while serving as the representative of the Sagip Party-list.
Barbers added that, based on the Ombudsman's position, Marcoleta's own statements prompted the anti-graft body's action, making the legal proceedings a separate matter that should be resolved independently of any political developments.
“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. But this has nothing to do with the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte,” he said.
Barbers also rejected speculation that the reported case was intended to influence the Senate impeachment proceedings, saying there is no evidence to support such claims.
He maintained that the Ombudsman's actions were based on information already on public record and reiterated that the legal issues facing Marcoleta should not be confused with the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte.
“But this has nothing to do with the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte,” Barbers said.
The Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court on July 6 for the start of Duterte's impeachment trial, while any criminal proceedings involving Marcoleta will follow a separate legal process under the Office of the Ombudsman and the courts.
Jul 2, 2026
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