The Commission on Elections has ordered Senator Rodante Marcoleta to explain the alleged non disclosure of his 2025 campaign donors, directing him to respond within 10 days to a show cause order issued Friday.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the order seeks clarification on the discrepancy between Marcoleta’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures for the May 2025 elections and his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth. “Nung Friday na issue na show cause order para paliwanag niya tungkol sa discrepancy nakita sa SALN at SOCE,” Garcia told reporters.
Marcoleta earlier admitted that he did not declare contributions from donors who asked to remain anonymous, despite the requirement that all campaign donations be fully reported. His SOCE shows P139.9 million in campaign expenses, far higher than his declared net worth of about P52 million.
Garcia said he is considering inhibiting himself from the case because of a previous professional relationship with the lawmaker. “Paliwanag pa lang naman. Para ma settle ang issue na yan,” he said.
The Comelec is also set to release its disposition in the case of Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday. Garcia said the Political Finance and Affairs Department submitted its recommendation to the en banc, adding that Commissioner Rey Bulay will determine if the ruling needs full commission approval.
The poll body earlier issued show cause orders against Escudero and Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president Lawrence Lubiano over P30 million in donations to Escudero’s 2022 campaign. Government contractors are barred from making political donations under the Omnibus Election Code.
According to government records, Centerways Construction received about P5.1 billion in flood control projects from 2022 to 2024. Lubiano admitted donating to Escudero but said it came from his own funds.
