THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has officially denied receiving any directive or instruction to arrest Senator Rodante Marcoleta in connection with plunder and indirect bribery complaints filed against him.
In a statement released on Monday, June 22, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. clarified that law enforcement operations are strictly bound by legal procedures, emphasizing that arrests are only carried out upon the issuance of a valid court order.
“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, putting to rest circulating speculations regarding the senator’s possible detention.
This clarification follows public claims made by Marcoleta himself, who stated that an arrest warrant might soon be served against him over the cases now pending before the Office of the Ombudsman.
The complaints stem from allegations that the senator failed to properly declare campaign contributions in his official Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. Investigators established that Marcoleta allegedly received a total of ₱75 million in donations from former lawmaker Mike Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Aristotle Viray within just four days in January 2025 — amounts that were reportedly not included in his required financial disclosures, leading to the recommendation of formal charges.
Gen. Nartatez further disclosed that Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla was also unaware of any existing warrant or order for the senator’s arrest, reinforcing the position that no such legal process has been authorized or transmitted to the police force.
“The Philippine National Police remains a professional and apolitical organization, and all our actions are based on legal orders of competent courts, on the rule of law and on the maintenance of peace and order,” the PNP chief added. The statement underscores the agency’s commitment to due process and makes clear that it will only intervene when proper legal documents are issued by the appropriate judicial bodies.
