Philippine Police Say No Arrest Warrant Issued for Senator Marcoleta Amid Pending Complaints

Philippine National Police officials said they have not received any warrant to arrest Senator Rodante Marcoleta. On June 22, PNP public information chief Colonel Allen Rae Co stated in a press conference that the police did not receive any warrant. PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr.

Said the force would only make an arrest once ordered by a court. “The Philippine National Police has not issued any special operational directive concerning Senator Marcoleta, and we do not act on rumors or unverified information,” Nartatez said. ” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla told ABS-CBN News that a warrant could only be issued by a court after charges have been filed.

“For a warrant to occur, a charge must be filed against him at the Sandiganbayan. I know of no such charges being filed,” he said. The statements followed a June 19 post on the Facebook page Makata Ng Bayan claiming a warrant had been issued.

The page has more than 940,000 followers, and the post received more than 19,000 reactions, 6,200 comments and 6,300 shares as of June 23. Marcoleta posted a video on June 16 stating that a warrant would be issued over plunder and indirect bribery complaints filed before the Office of the Ombudsman.

He faces questions over the non-inclusion of P75 million in campaign donations in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.

A precautionary hold departure order was approved by the Sandiganbayan on May 26 against Marcoleta and three other respondents. Marcoleta said he would not resist arrest based on what he claimed were made-up charges.