The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is gearing up to activate a compliance-driven review process as it directs Senator Rodante Marcoleta to clarify the alleged non-disclosure of certain campaign donors in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for the May 2025 elections. Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia confirmed on Wednesday that the agency will roll out a show-cause order (SCO) next week to obtain the senator’s formal explanation and validate supporting documents.
Garcia emphasized that the move aligns with Comelec’s mandate to maintain operational transparency and legacy governance practices within the country’s electoral framework. “Para may venue ng pagpapaliwanag at matingnan ang mga documents, mag-i-issue kami ng show cause order,” he said, noting that both the SOCE and Marcoleta’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) are already on file and accessible for cross-verification.
The poll body chief added that the inquiry is anchored on ensuring consistency and integrity across required disclosures. “Marapat gawin ito para hingan namin siya ng paliwanag tutal naman ang SALN ay public na e. May kopya naman kami ng SOCE,” he stated, underscoring the importance of maintaining compliance alignment.
Marcoleta had earlier acknowledged that he omitted the identities of several contributors in his SOCE after they purportedly requested anonymity. His filed SOCE showed total campaign expenditures amounting to P139.9 million—an amount noticeably higher than his declared net worth of P51,965,559 based on his most recent SALN.
Garcia said the Comelec’s objective is not to jump to conclusions but to drive clarity and ensure full documentation. “Siya din nagsabi na dahilan bakit hindi nailagay… Tiningnan namin at nakita na ‘yung amount na mentioned na gastos ay ‘yun talaga naman. Kung san galing or paano pinanggalingan, ‘yun ang gusto namin malaman,” he explained.
The upcoming SCO signals a due-process-centric approach as Comelec pushes for visibility into how the senator financed his campaign and whether all contributions complied with election laws. While undisclosed donors are not unheard of in political campaigns, Comelec maintains that transparency remains non-negotiable in sustaining trust in electoral systems.
As the agency advances this procedural escalation, stakeholders across the political space are watching closely. The outcome of Marcoleta’s explanation may shape future compliance strategies and reinforce long-standing standards on campaign finance accountability.