Manila: Sen. Rodante Marcoleta pleaded not guilty on Wednesday before the Sandiganbayan on plunder charges and violation of Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits elected officials from receiving gifts and private individuals from giving to public officers.

According to Philippines News Agency, the charges stemmed from donations totaling PHP75 million in three separate transactions from individuals, including former Quezon City Rep. Mike Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray, months before the 2025 national and local elections. Marcoleta, who previously served as a member of the House of Representatives, did not declare the donations in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) or in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Defense counsel Rodolfo Sabulao requested the arraignment of Marcoleta on the plunder charge and announced the withdrawal of an earlier motion to quash in order to expedite the proceedings. Associate Justice Karl Miranda, chairperson of the Third Division, confirmed with Marcoleta if he consented to the withdrawal of his motion on the plunder charge. Marcoleta affirmed, stating he made the decision 'without force or intimidation.'

Defensor, Espiritu, and Viray had earlier entered pleas of not guilty before the anti-graft court. All four individuals are currently detained at the Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas. The Sandiganbayan has scheduled the pretrial for the plunder charge on August 10, 2026.