Ahead of VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta Arrested for Plunder
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President is confirmed to have visited Senator Rodante Marcoleta at the Philippine National Police (PNP) General Hospital.
On Monday, July 6, 2026, one of the Duterte allies in the Senate, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, did not make it to the start of the impeachment trial of the Vice President. Marcoleta was arrested after the Sandiganbayan Third Division denied his motion to quash.
Sen. Marcoleta is faced with plunder for allegedly not declaring the supposed P75 million he received in campaign donations in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN). The Ombudsman filed a plunder case against him citing the “admissions” from the Senator.
According to Marcoleta, some of the donors behind the P75 million campaign donation are his friends who want to be anonymous. On Monday, Secretary of Interior and Local Government or SILG Jonvic Remulla confirmed the arrest of Sen. Marcoleta. According to him, it was both a surrender and an arrest.
“Was he arrested or did he surrender? It was both. He went there voluntarily sa Sandiganbayan to file a motion to quash, subsequently when it was denied, we closed down the building, we arrived, we arrested him,” the Interior Secretary said.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is another ally of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte in the Senate who now cannot attend her impeachment trial. The others were senators Jinggoy Estrada and Bato dela Rosa.
Following his arrest, Marcoleta was brought to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). He underwent medical examination and the taking of his mugshots. However, the Senator complained about chest pain and his blood pressure was high.
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was brought to the PNP General Hospital. Based on a report on News5, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has visited the Senator early today. After noon, the Vice President was spotted at the Senate.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was in the Senate for the meeting with her legal team and not the impeachment trial. She refused to answer questions before the media and just gave a short message.
Sen. Marcoleta remains at the PNP General Hospital and underwent laboratory testing today. Previously, SILG Jonvic Remulla said that if his medical examination results are fine, he will be brought to the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas where he will be detained.