Then Rep. Rodante Marcoleta attends a House hearing, September 8, 2022. Press and Public Affairs Bureau handout
MANILA — Television host Nelson Lubao was excused from testifying on Monday, the final day of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s bail hearing in his plunder case over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million worth of donations.
Lubao was the senator’s co-host on a television program on Nov. 8, 2025, where Marcoleta admitted receiving donations on the condition that the donors’ identities would not be disclosed.
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The court received on Sept. 9 Lubao’s manifestation seeking to be excused as a witness on “religious grounds.” The specific grounds were not discussed further in court.
Lubao was supposed to testify on the authenticity of a flash drive and a link containing the video of Marcoleta’s remarks, but the prosecution and defense instead stipulated to their authenticity.
The parties are expected to formally offer their documentary evidence, after which the bail petition may be submitted for resolution.
Associate Justice Ronald Moreno said the court tentatively set Nov. 3 to resolve the bail petition.
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TRIAL
Meanwhile, the trial proper for the plunder case is set to begin on Oct. 8.
The prosecution is expected to present Atty. Paula Corrales, who reportedly issued certified true copies of the deeds of donation, and the custodian of the books of the notary public who notarized the documents.
Prosecutors said they intend to establish an alleged conspiracy between Marcoleta and the donors by showing a discrepancy between when the donations were supposedly made and when the deeds were executed and notarized.
Maria Mananghaya-Henson, director of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Field Investigation Bureau, earlier testified that the graft-busting body found an alleged “connivance” among the accused to conceal the purpose of the gifts.
Henson said this was shown by the delayed payment of donor’s tax and the delayed notarization of the deeds of donation.
The donations were reportedly made in January 2025, while the donor’s taxes for donors Defensor and Espiritu were allegedly paid only in December 2025.
Henson also said that an employee of Marcoleta paid both taxes.
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