Comelec unit to issue resolution on Marcoleta's 2025 SOCE discrepancy

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February 19, 2026 | 2:02pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections’ political and finance arm is preparing to decide whether Sen. Rodante Marcoleta violated disclosure rules in his 2025 election spending report, after completing its investigation into the case.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia told reporters Thursday, February 19, that the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) has wrapped up its probe and is set to issue a resolution.

The poll body has not said when the resolution will be released.  

The case stems from Marcoleta’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for the May 2025 elections, where he reported spending P139.9 million on his campaign but declared zero donations.

Marcoleta had publicly acknowledged that he did not list certain contributions in his SOCE because the donors asked to remain anonymous.

In November 2025, Comelec issued a show-cause order directing him to explain those remarks and the apparent discrepancy between his SOCE and his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

In his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta argued that the contributions in question were received before he was officially considered a candidate.

"It appears the issue has become legal in nature because his defense is that the donations were given and received before he became a candidate, under the Peñera doctrine," Garcia told Philstar.com in a message.

Marcoleta’s case drew attention because his declared campaign spending of P139.9 million exceeded his declared net worth of P51.9 million, while his SOCE reflected no donations.

Candidates are required to file a complete and accurate SOCE detailing campaign income and spending. The document is submitted under oath and serves as the public record of how campaigns are financed.