Rodante Marcoleta an incumbent SAGIP Party-list representative, has served in Congress for more than 11 years.
In the House of Representatives, where he serves as deputy speaker, he was among the principal authors of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
Along with other staunch allies of President Rodrigo Duterte in the lower house, Marcoleta pushed for the non-renewal of the franchise of the country’s leading broadcaster ABS-CBN Corp. which the chamber’s legislative franchises panel ultimately voted to take off free television airwaves amid the COVID-19 crisis.
He is the same lawmaker who moved to give the Commission on Human Rights a mere P1,000 budget for 2018 in the House of Representatives, a move supported by more than 100 of his colleagues but ultimately reversed by the Senate.
Most recently, in 2021, Marcoleta and Rep. Mike Defensor (Anakalusugan Party-list), drew controversy when they set up an “ivermectin pantry” at a barangay and distributed the antiparasitic drug — normally administered to animals — to some 200 Quezon City residents. The Department of Health has reiterated that no evidence currently exists to back up the safety and efficacy of the drug as a COVID-19 treatment. Clinical trials of the horse medicine by the Department of Science and Technology had not commenced at the time the pantry was put up and are still ongoing as of this writing.
As a lawmaker, Marcoleta has advocated for the welfare of workers, alleviation of poverty, and the health of the public. He is campaigning for equality of the law, quality education, and proper implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.
Marcoleta is included in the Senate slates of the administration PDP-Laban as well as the tandem of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., son and namesake of the late dictator, and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.
“Gusto kong magkaroon ng isang mabuting halimbawa, kung ano ang gawain ng isang senador. Ang isang senador ay hindi kagaya ng ginagawa ngayon ng Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Alam nila ang kanilang tungkulin, alam nila ang basehan ng kanilang tungkulin ngunit sila ay nagmalabis.”
RODANTE DIZON MARCOLETA
Full Name: Marcoleta, Rodante Dizon
Nickname: “Dante”
Birthdate: July 29, 1953 (Age 71)
Birthplace: Paniqui, Tarlac
Religion: Inglesia ni Cristo
Languages Spoken: Filipino, English
Spouse: Edna M. Marcoleta
Children: Paoly Henry M. Marcoleta, President, SAGIP Partylist
Profession/Occupation: Legislator
EDUCATION
- Doctorate Degree in Public Administration, University of the Philippines, Diliman, 2020
- Master’s Degree in Business Administration, University of the East
- Developmental Leadership, Harvard Kennedy School
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Deputy House Speaker, House of Representatives, 2019 to present
- SAGIP Partylist representative, 2016 to present
- Alagad Partylist representative, 2004 to 2007, 2009 to 2013
MAJOR ACCOMPLSIHMENTS
As a legislator, Marcoleta authored some 283 bills, at least 39 of which were eventually passed into law. Two of these were related to tax reformation, while another two laws were enacted to help with the quality of education in schools. Marcoleta likewise filed a number of bills supporting poverty alleviation and citizen welfare.
Marcoleta was one of the most vocal lawmakers opposing the renewal of ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise application. Throughout House hearings, Marcoleta raised the citizenship of chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez III, alleged tax-evasion schemes by using its subsidiary, Big Dipper Digital Content and Design Inc., supposed Labor Code violations, and the legality of its reacquisition by the Lopez family in 1986 among other issues.
The rejection of the broadcaster’s franchise came despite confirmation from the Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and the Department of Labor and Employment that the broadcast company was compliant with government regulations.
ABS-CBN’s shutdown was lamented by media practitioners and rights watchdogs as an affront to media freedom and by health workers who flagged the dangers of limiting the public’s access to vital information in the middle of the pandemic.
Running contrary to his own arguments in 2020, Marcoleta previously filed bills allowing dual citizens to run for public office and to grant franchises to companies that have had them for more than 50 years.
Marcoleta’s team also aired a political ad for his senatorial campaign on ABS-CBN’s streaming platform Kapamilya Network in November 2021, less than two years after he and his colleagues took the broadcaster off free-to-air television.
BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
AS CONGRESSMAN
Author
- RA 11534: Amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code
- RA 11476: GMRC and Value Education Act
- RA 11494: Bayanihan to Recover As One Act
- RA 11506: Act Granting San Miguel Aerocity Inc. a franchise to construct, develop, establish, operate and maintain a domestic and international airport in the municipality of Bulakan, Bulacan, and to construct, develop, establish, operate, and maintain an adjacent airport city
- RA 11291: Magna Carta of the Poor
- RA 10923: Act Postponing the October 2016 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections
- RA 10963: Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act
- RA 10925: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Republic Broadcasting System, Inc., presently known as GMA Network, Inc.
- RA 11099: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation
- RA 10969: Free Irrigation Service Act
- RA 11223: Universal Health Care Act
- RA11032: Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act
- RA 11302: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Peñafrancia Broadcasting Corporation
- RA 11303: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to the Delta Broadcasting System, Inc.
- RA 11459: Judges-at-Large Act
- RA 11188: Special Protection of Children in Situations of Armed Conflict Act
- RA 11219: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to the Iglesia ni Cristo
- RA 11392: National Performing Arts Companies Act
- RA 11319: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, Inc.
- RA 11342: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Tirad Pass Radio TV Broadcasting Network, Inc.
- RA 11355: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Radioworld Broadcasting Corporation
- RA 11414: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Rajah Broadcasting Network
- RA 11315: Community-Based Monitoring System Act
- RA 11232: Revised Corporation Code of the Philippines
- RA 11320: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to ABC Development Corporation, Presently Known as TV5 Network, Inc.
- RA 11448: Transnational Higher Education Act
- RA 11350: National Commission of Senior Citizens Act
- RA 11337: Innovative Startup Act
Co-author
- RA 11466: Salary Standardization Act
- RA 11463: Malasakit Centers Act
- RA 11199: Social Security Act
- RA 11148: Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act
- RA 10931: Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
- RA 11109: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Manila Broadcasting Company
- RA 11364: Cooperative Development Authority Charter
- RA 10926: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Smart Communications, Inc.
- RA 10928: Act extending the validity of Philippine passports
- RA 11213: Tax Amnesty Act
- RA 11352: Act granting Bohol Chronicle Radio Corporation a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain radio broadcasting stations
- RA 11151: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Isla Communications Company, Inc., Presently Known As Innove Communications, Inc.
- RA 11411: Act granting Ignite Telecommunications, Incorporated a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain telecommunications systems throughout the Philippines
- RA 11412: Act Granting The Golden Nation Network Inc. a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain telecommunications systems throughout the Philippines
- RA 11204: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Ermita Electronics Incorporated, Presently Known As G. Telecoms, Inc.
- RA 11222: Simulated Birth Rectification Act
- RA 11339: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Cebu Broadcasting Company
- RA 11316: Act extending for another 25 years the franchise assigned to PBN Broadcasting Network, Inc.
- RA 11440: National Campus Press Freedom Day Act
- RA 11205: Act granting the Deus Amor Est Broadcasting, Inc. a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain telecommunications systems throughout the Philippines
- RA 11300: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Filipinas Broadcasting Network, Inc.
- RA 11238: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to The University Of Mindanao, Doing Business Under The Name And Style Of University Of Mindanao Broadcasting Network And Um Broadcasting Network
- RA 11413: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Pacific Broadcasting System, Inc.
- RA 11240: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Philippine Broadcasting Corporation
- RA 11252: Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to RMC Broadcasting Corporation
- RA 11055: Philippine Identification System Act
- RA 11361: Anti-Obstruction of Power Lines Act
- RA 11369: National Students’ Day Act
- RA 11089: Act granting Streamtech Systems Technologies Inc. a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate, and maintain telecommunications systems throughout the Philippines
- RA 11244: Act granting the Volunteer Lifecare Ministries, Inc. a franchise to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain noncommercial radio broadcasting stations in the Philippines
- RA 11410: Act Granting the MAGNUM.AIR(SKYJET) Inc. a franchise to establish, operate and maintain domestic and international air transport services
- RA 11246: Act extending for another 25 years the franchise granted to Raven Broadcasting Corporation
- RA 11253: Act extending for another 25 years the franchise granted to Advanced Media Broadcasting System
- RA 11038: Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act
- RA 11039: Electric Cooperatives Emergency and Resiliency Fund Act
- RA 11211: New Central Bank Act
- RA 11226: Act renewing the franchise granted to Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation
- RA 11164: Act increasing the monthly old-age pension of senior veterans
- RA 11228: Act providing for the mandatory Philhealth coverage for all persons with disability
- RA 11363: Philippine Space Act
- RA 11279: Act transferring the Philippine National Police Academy and the National Police Training Institute from the Philippine Public Safety College to the Philippine National Police
- RA 11215: National Integrated Cancer Control Act
- RA 11394: Mandatory Provision of Neutral Desks in Educational Institutions Act
- RA 11346: Amendments to the National Internal Revenue Code
- RA 11293: Philippine Innovation Act
- RA 11398: Philippine Fisheries Profession Act
- RA 11321: Sagip Saka Act
- RA 11314: Student Fare Discount Act
- RA 11299: Act establishing the Office for Social Welfare Attache
- RA 09340: Act amending Republic Act No. 9164, resetting the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections
- RA 9442: Act amending the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons
- RA 9480: Act enhancing revenue administration and collection by granting an amnesty on all unpaid internal revenue taxes imposed by the national government for taxable year 2005 and prior years
- RA 9334: Act increasing the excise tax rates imposed on alcohol and tobacco products, amending for the purpose the National Internal Revenue Code
- RA 9397: Act amending the Urban Development And Housing Act
- RA 9344: Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act
- RA 9406: Act reorganizing and strengthening the Public Attorney’s Office
- RA 9485: Anti-Red Tape Act
- RA 9416: Act declaring as unlawful any form of cheating in Civil Service Examinations, unauthorized use and possession of Civil Service Commission (CSC) examination-related materials, and granting the CSC exclusive jurisdiction over these cases including those committed by private individuals
- RA 9346: Act prohibiting the imposition of death penalty in the Philippines
- RA 9484: Philippine Dental Act
- RA 10354: Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act
- RA 10536: Act amending the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines
- RA 10606: National Health Insurance Act
- RA 10366: Act authorizing the Commission On Elections to establish precincts assigned to accessible polling places exclusively for persons with disabilities and senior citizens
- RA 10532: Philippine National Health Research System Act
- RA 10364: Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
- RA 10361: Batas Kasambahay
- RA 10618: Rural Farm Schools Act
