How Marcoleta spent P112.9 million in his 2025 election campaign

Senator Rodante Marcoleta admitted receiving P75 million in campaign donations for his successful 2025 Senate bid despite reporting zero contributions in his official election records.

In the 2025 midterm elections, Marcoleta made history as the first member of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to win a seat in the Senate. He pulled in 15.14 million votes, landing in sixth place.

Among the 12 winning senators, Marcoleta was the only one who reported no campaign donations in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) filed with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

But in late 2025, Marcoleta himself acknowledged receiving P75 million for his senatorial bid while he was still serving as a congressman. In an interview with INC-run NET25 uploaded on November 8, 2024, he said the money came from friends who supported his campaign.

Marcoleta’s victory surprised many after he consistently lagged in pre-election surveys. He attributed his win to his network of supporters.