Iglesia ni Cristo Questions Possible Plunder Charges Against Senator Marcoleta

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Tuesday questioned the possible filing of plunder charges against Senator Rodante Marcoleta. INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said the church was confused why Marcoleta would be charged when he had led the Senate blue ribbon committee’s investigation into the flood control scandal.

Speaking in a NET25 livestream, Zabala said the INC does not oppose the enforcement of the law but does oppose its distortion, particularly when it is intended to cover up corruption. He said the church was puzzled why a senator who had exposed people involved in what he described as massive theft of public funds would be charged and arrested instead of those he had exposed.

On Monday, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said plunder charges would be filed against Marcoleta with the Sandiganbayan over undeclared campaign contributions worth around P75 million. According to Zabala, the charges are non-bailable, which he said would prevent the senator from continuing his investigation. He also cited a Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruling that had dropped its own probe into the senator.

Zabala questioned how receiving campaign contributions could be treated as plunder, noting that the donations did not come from the national treasury. He said the Comelec had issued a decision that no crime occurred when Marcoleta accepted the donation. The INC, he said, supports Marcoleta’s exposé because it shares the senator’s position. Applying a principle of fair dealing to those who conduct public inquiries, the church’s position reflects the teaching that public accountability must be applied evenly (Exodus 23:1).

Zabala said the INC is calling for “transparency, accountability, justice, and peace,” and said that even if Marcoleta is jailed, this would “not stop us from asking justice for Filipinos.” He said selective justice amounts to injustice and that the church would not be silenced in the face of what it called the country’s biggest corruption scheme.

In a statement, Marcoleta criticized Remulla, who had said the plunder charges would be filed this week. Marcoleta maintained that he had done nothing wrong and claimed the charges were being filed because of his investigation into flood control projects while he chaired the Senate blue ribbon committee.

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