COMMISSION on Elections investigation into a contractor’s P300-million donation to the campaign of Sen. Francis Escudero in the 2022 polls continues despite his claim that the money came from a private fund.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia said on Thursday that Escudero’s affidavit explaining the donation is not enough, since the poll body still has to determine if it violates provisions of election law.
‘At this point, not yet. That’s the reason why we sought an explanation from them-not just him but also the contractor involved, and later from others once confirmed by the [Department of Public Works and Highways],’ Garcia said, mostly in Filipino.
Escudero earlier maintained that the P300 million came from the personal funds of Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
According to Garcia, Escudero also stated that he ‘did not know and did not care’ whether the donation originated from a corporation.
The Comelec chief clarified that the senator is not being singled out, saying his case simply moved ahead of others because both he and the contractor publicly admitted to the donation.
‘This is not singling out. His case came first only because the contractor admitted during a House hearing that he is a government contractor who donatedP300 million, and Senator Chiz himself said in a press conference that he received a donation from that person,’ Garcia said.
In September, the Comelec transmitted to the DPWH a list of 54 campaign donors who were also contractors, asking the agency to verify if they had ongoing government projects when they contributed to political candidates in 2022.
Garcia said the DPWH has yet to respond to the request.
He added that Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department has initially found nine contractors who donated during the 2025 midterm elections.
Their names will likewise be sent to the DPWH for verification.
Under Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code, contractors and suppliers of government projects are prohibited from contributing, directly or indirectly, to any partisan political activity.
The ban also covers financial institutions except for legitimate loans, utilities, companies with government franchises or contracts, natural resource extractors, recipients of large government loans, publicly funded schools, civil service officials, members of the armed forces, and all foreigners and foreign corporations.
Both donors and recipients who violate the provision may face imprisonment of one to six years.