Sen. Rodante Marcoleta entered a plea of not guilty to charges of plunder and three counts of violating Presidential Decree No. 46 during his arraignment before the Sandiganbayan.
Presidential Decree No. 46 prohibits government officials from receiving gifts or donations from private individuals.
Marcoleta’s alleged campaign donor and co-accused, Joseph Espiritu, also pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him.
The trial formally began following the arraignment, during which the charges were read to the accused before they entered their pleas.
Marcoleta faces one count of plunder and three counts of violating Presidential Decree No. 46.
The charges stem from an alleged ₱75 million in campaign donations that prosecutors said Marcoleta received while he was still serving as a party-list representative.
According to the prosecution, the alleged donations were not declared in Marcoleta’s financial disclosures and campaign disclosure documents.
Prosecutors alleged that ₱20 million of the amount came from Joseph Espiritu, ₱30 million from former Rep. Mike Defensor, and ₱25 million from Aristotle Viray.
Separate proceedings involving two other cases against Marcoleta are also being heard by other divisions of the Sandiganbayan.
Those cases are likewise connected to allegations that Marcoleta received donations from Defensor and Viray.
The arraignment marked the start of the court proceedings, with Marcoleta and Espiritu formally denying the allegations through their not guilty pleas.
The Sandiganbayan will continue hearing the cases in accordance with court procedures.
