MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered Sen. Francis Escudero to explain a P30-million campaign donation from a construction firm executive whose company was flagged for cornering a large share of government infrastructure projects.
Comelec chairman George Garcia confirmed that a show-cause order was issued on Friday, directing Escudero to respond to questions regarding the contribution made by Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president Lawrence Lubiano to his 2022 Senate campaign.
“Yes, ito ay naipadala na (last Friday),” Garcia said, noting that a hearing has been scheduled for October 13.
The probe stems from Lubiano’s admission before lawmakers that he personally donated P30 million to Escudero’s campaign, a move that could run afoul of election laws barring contractors with active government projects from making political contributions.
Under Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code, any individual or company holding government contracts is prohibited from donating to candidates or political parties.
Garcia said the central issue for the Comelec’s ruling will be whether such a donation can be treated as a private contribution or remains tied to Lubiano’s official capacity as a government contractor.
“‘Yan ang pinaka-puno’t dulo ng magiging desisyon ng Comelec. Mayroon pa bang distinction, mayroon pa bang kaibahan ‘yung private capacity ng isang tao versus ‘yung kanyang pagiging opisyal, may-ari ng kompanya na ipinagbabawal ng ating probinsyon ng batas?” Garcia explained.
Escudero, for his part, said he welcomes the inquiry and is prepared to prove that his campaign complied with all legal requirements.
“We welcome the opportunity to prove that — like the others who are similarly situated in the PCIJ report on the 2022 elections — no law has been violated,” he said.
Escudero acknowledged Lubiano as one of his contributors but denied any involvement in government-funded flood control projects either in his home province or elsewhere.
Lubiano had earlier been summoned by the Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department to justify the donation and appear before the panel.
Centerways Construction is among the firms earlier flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for monopolizing government flood control projects, sparking broader scrutiny of the links between contractors and political beneficiaries./PN
