Philippine Senator Marcoleta arrested on plunder charge hours before Sara Duterte's impeachment trial
A key Duterte ally and senator-judge was nabbed minutes before the trial starts.
In a dramatic pre-trial move, Philippine Senator Rodante Marcoleta was arrested Monday on plunder charges, directly targeting a key ally of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio and potentially shifting the dynamics of her impeachment trial. Marcoleta was to serve as a senator-judge in the trial, which opened hours after his arrest. The anti-corruption court found probable cause that Marcoleta accepted 75 million pesos ($1.2 million) from private donors during his 2025 Senate campaign, violating anti-corruption laws. Police took him into custody at the courthouse after he appeared to contest the warrant.
Marcoleta proclaimed he would face the charges openly: "I will not hide." His absence from the trial could complicate the proceedings for Duterte-Carpio, who needs support from two-thirds of the 24-member Senate to avoid conviction. A conviction would bar her from the 2028 presidential election, where she is currently the front-runner against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The plunder charge is non-bailable under Philippine law. The arrest, issued by Judge Karl Miranda, also includes a hold departure order, ensuring Marcoleta cannot leave the country.
- Senator Rodante Marcoleta arrested for plunder hours before Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
- Allegedly accepted 75 million pesos ($1.2M) from private donors for 2025 Senate run.
- If Duterte convicted, she would be barred from the 2028 presidential election where she leads polls.
Why It Matters
The arrest removes a crucial Duterte ally from the trial and raises corruption stakes for the VP's political survival.