THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has cleared Senator Rodante Marcoleta of any election offense after adopting the recommendation of its Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) to terminate the investigation into his campaign finance disclosures.
However, the Comelec en banc ordered the filing of a separate election complaint against three of Marcoleta’s campaign contributors—Michael Tan Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Aristotle Baluyut Viray—for their alleged failure to submit individual reports of contributions, as required under election finance rules.
In a resolution, the poll body ruled that Marcoleta did not violate election laws in connection with alleged flaws in his statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE), effectively ending months of scrutiny over claims that he failed to declare certain campaign donations.
The case stemmed from discrepancies flagged by the Comelec, including the senator’s reported campaign spending and his earlier admission that some donors requested anonymity.
The complaint will be referred to the Comelec Law Department for preliminary investigation.
Comelec officials have repeatedly stressed that strict compliance with disclosure requirements is essential to ensure transparency and accountability in campaign financing, noting that both candidates and donors may be held liable for violations.
The development came amid broader efforts by the poll body to tighten oversight of political financing, including investigations into undisclosed donations and possible violations involving candidates and contributors in recent elections.
