Sen. Rodante Marcoleta accused the Office of the Ombudsman of being the driving force behind the planned filing of a plunder case against him.
Reports said the Ombudsman is expected to file a plunder case against Marcoleta following allegations that he received P75 million in campaign donations last year.
Marcoleta denied the allegations and said he believes the Ombudsman is behind the planned case.
The senator said he reached that conclusion after an exchange during a Senate session, where he claimed the Ombudsman agreed with a statement suggesting that the law could be distorted.
Marcoleta also pointed to what he described as a recent pattern in which individuals who, according to him, care about the country are being sued first while those he referred to as the “real thieves” have yet to face prosecution.
He said he would continue to defend his position regardless of the outcome of the case.
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson rejected another claim made by Marcoleta that the developments surrounding the planned case were orchestrated.
Lacson dismissed the allegation, saying it was another attempt by Marcoleta to engage in what he described as “gaslighting.”
The exchange came amid reports that the Ombudsman is preparing to file a non-bailable plunder case against Marcoleta.
Marcoleta has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that the planned charges are unfounded.
The senator said he intends to fight the allegations through legal means and stand by his position.
Lacson, for his part, disputed Marcoleta’s assertions and rejected the suggestion that the developments were planned, calling the claim misleading.
