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Comelec Drops Election Complaint Against Marcoleta Over P75M Donation
Photo credit: Rodante Marcoleta
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed the election complaint against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over an alleged ₱75-million campaign donation, saying current election laws no longer classify a candidate's failure to disclose campaign contributions as a criminal offense.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body closed the case after determining that the existing law no longer criminalizes the non-disclosure of campaign donations in a candidate's Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
The complaint stemmed from allegations that former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray donated a combined ₱75 million to Marcoleta during the 2025 midterm elections.
Garcia clarified that while Comelec has ended its investigation into Marcoleta's SOCE, the commission's action does not prevent other government agencies from conducting their own investigations under other laws.
"Kapag hiningian kami ng dokumento, ibinibigay po namin 'yan.'"
Garcia said Comelec is prepared to cooperate with any agency investigating the alleged donation by providing election records and other relevant documents upon request.
He also noted that while the commission has closed its investigation into Marcoleta's SOCE, it has not terminated the case involving the senator's alleged donors, who may still face possible election law violations.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, candidates are required to file a Statement of Contributions and Expenditures after every election. Although failure to file a SOCE carries administrative consequences, Garcia said the current election law no longer treats the non-disclosure of campaign contributions as a criminal offense, which served as the basis for dismissing the complaint against Marcoleta.
The alleged ₱75-million donation remains the subject of a separate complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, where Marcoleta, Defensor, and others are facing allegations of plunder, indirect bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from accepting certain gifts. Those proceedings are separate from the Comelec case and remain pending.
Comelec emphasized that its dismissal applies only to the election offense complaint and does not affect any criminal or administrative cases that may still be pursued by other government agencies.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body closed the case after determining that the existing law no longer criminalizes the non-disclosure of campaign donations in a candidate's Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
The complaint stemmed from allegations that former Quezon City congressman Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray donated a combined ₱75 million to Marcoleta during the 2025 midterm elections.
Garcia clarified that while Comelec has ended its investigation into Marcoleta's SOCE, the commission's action does not prevent other government agencies from conducting their own investigations under other laws.
"Kapag hiningian kami ng dokumento, ibinibigay po namin 'yan.'"
Garcia said Comelec is prepared to cooperate with any agency investigating the alleged donation by providing election records and other relevant documents upon request.
He also noted that while the commission has closed its investigation into Marcoleta's SOCE, it has not terminated the case involving the senator's alleged donors, who may still face possible election law violations.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, candidates are required to file a Statement of Contributions and Expenditures after every election. Although failure to file a SOCE carries administrative consequences, Garcia said the current election law no longer treats the non-disclosure of campaign contributions as a criminal offense, which served as the basis for dismissing the complaint against Marcoleta.
The alleged ₱75-million donation remains the subject of a separate complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman, where Marcoleta, Defensor, and others are facing allegations of plunder, indirect bribery, and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits public officials from accepting certain gifts. Those proceedings are separate from the Comelec case and remain pending.
Comelec emphasized that its dismissal applies only to the election offense complaint and does not affect any criminal or administrative cases that may still be pursued by other government agencies.
Jul 9, 2026
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