Marcoleta Remains in Position Despite Opposition to 2026 Budget

In a striking example of misleading news headlines, the video titled “Kakapasok lang! Marcoleta, di kinaya ang kahihiyan; biglang nagbitiw sa pwesto” falsely suggested that Senator Rodante Marcoleta had resigned from his position in the Philippine Senate—a claim that has been conclusively debunked.

The YouTube video, published by “Trending Pinas News” on January 4, accumulated over 3,800 views with its sensationalist thumbnail and title suggesting Marcoleta had stepped down following an unnamed Senate decision. The video’s opening narration even described a “shocking development” where Marcoleta supposedly “backed out” and claimed that “evidence has been exposed” with Senator Sherwin Gatchalian allegedly testifying against him.

However, a thorough review of the video’s actual content reveals a complete disconnect from its headline. The footage merely discusses Marcoleta’s decision to vote against the ratification of the 2026 national budget in late December 2025—a legitimate political stance that in no way indicates a resignation from office.

No credible news outlets have reported Marcoleta’s resignation, and neither the Senate nor the senator’s official channels have made any such announcement. Marcoleta continues to serve as the Senate Deputy Minority Leader and remains listed among the active senators of the 20th Congress.

This discrepancy between headline and content represents a concerning pattern in online information sharing, where misleading titles are crafted to generate clicks rather than accurately represent the content.

Regarding the actual subject of the video, Senator Marcoleta did indeed vote against the ratification of the 2026 national budget, citing specific concerns about potential abuses. In his statement, Marcoleta explained his opposition was based on “concrete findings from audits, financial trends, and policy biases,” as well as the return of large unprogrammed funds that could potentially enable political favoritism despite existing safeguards.

“With a heavy heart, I cast my ‘no’ vote,” Marcoleta stated. “I stand by my conviction to prevent possible abuses of the budget. Safeguards on paper are not always enough. We must learn from the mistakes of the past and ensure public funds truly serve the people.”

He wasn’t alone in his opposition. Senator Robin Padilla also voted against the budget, citing unclear allocations and regional funding gaps, while several other senators approved with reservations.

Despite these objections, both chambers of Congress ratified the bicameral conference committee report on December 29, 2025. The 2026 Philippine national budget, totaling P6.793 trillion, was subsequently signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on January 5, 2026, as Republic Act No. 12314. President Marcos exercised his veto power on over P92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations—less than half of what Congress had originally approved.

Senate Finance Committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian, who oversaw the budget’s crafting, assured the public that the budget is “101%” safeguarded against corruption and highlighted that it provides the largest investment in education in the country’s history.

The false narrative surrounding Marcoleta’s supposed resignation serves as a reminder of the importance of critical media consumption and fact-checking in an era where misleading headlines can rapidly spread misinformation.