Comelec: Chiz must explain P30M donated by contractor
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a show cause order directing Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero to explain the P30-million donation he received from a government contractor for his 2022 campaign.
It is a potential case of election code violation against the former Senate president, one that has surfaced as an offshoot of the ongoing inquiries into public works anomalies.
Comelec Chair George Garcia on Saturday confirmed that the order was already served to Escudero, who was asked to appear in a hearing of the poll body’s Political Finance and Affairs Department on Oct. 13.
But Garcia said the senator can either make a personal appearance or submit an affidavit through a lawyer.
In a statement on Saturday, Escudero welcomed the show cause order.
“We welcome the opportunity to prove that—like the others who are similarly situated in the PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) report on the 2022 elections—no law has been violated,” he said.
Prohibited contributions
Escudero was referring to the PCIJ report last month which also revealed that President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, among others, received millions of pesos in campaign contributions in 2022.
The Comelec hearing will determine whether the funds donated to Escudero by Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., violated Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code. The provision prohibits contributions from any public or private institutions, including contractors, to any political candidate or political party.
The distinction between personal donation and corporate contribution will determine the Comelec’s decision, Garcia said.
“The purpose of Section 95 [of the Omnibus Election Code] was to prohibit all contractors of the government from abusing the donation [to candidates and parties] so that they can secure more contracts from the government,” he said in Filipino in an interview with dzBB radio.
The Comelec earlier issued an order against Lubiano to explain the P30 million donation. Garcia said Lubiano recently replied which prompted the poll body to issue another order to Escudero.
Complaint
Lubiano admitted during a hearing of the House of Representatives tri-committee, which probed anomalies surrounding the faulty infrastructure projects nationwide, that he donated to Escudero for his senatorial campaign in 2022.
Escudero himself confirmed that Centerways Construction donated P30 million, but insisted that the company did not secure any flood control projects with the government.
He was slapped with a complaint at the Senate ethics committee filed by private lawyer Marvin Aceron over this donation.
This issue was also seen as the tipping point for Escudero to step down as Senate president, with the majority of senators voting for Sen. Vicente Sotto III to replace him.
Aside from Escudero’s case, Garcia said the Comelec’s political finance and affairs department will also look into 55 other contractors that gave donations to various candidates.
Confirmation
He disclosed that the Comelec had sought confirmation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on whether these contractors have existing contracts with the government.
The 55 contractors, Garcia revealed, donated to the President, Vice President, six senators, five district representatives, three party list representatives, two governors and two vice governors.
He, however, declined to provide names.
“If the DPWH will issue certifications, then we will proceed [with the investigation],” Garcia said.
