Conflict of interest cited in pro-Chiz Comelec ruling
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia must disclose his possible conflict of interest as the former lawyer for Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero during the 2022 elections, according to a group of civilians who criticized the poll body’s “dangerous” ruling that cleared the senator of any election wrongdoing when he received campaign funds from a contractor.
In a statement sent to the media, the group led by Jocelyn Marie Acosta flagged the multiple layers of conflict between Garcia and Escudero, who was the subject of a Comelec motu proprio inquiry after he admitted to receiving P30 million in campaign funds from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc. in 2022.
“After all, wasn’t [Garcia] Escudero’s lawyer for the 2022 election? Didn’t his wife, the current deputy secretary for legislation of the Senate, rise to that position under then-Senate President Escudero?” they asked. “Garcia inhibited himself, sure, but what subordinates in their right minds would act against their boss?”
“Please don’t insult our intelligence by establishing obvious loopholes so that you retain your ability to serve political gods,” they added. “We have been injured enough by the corruption their impunity via your inaction enables,” they said.
The Inquirer has reached out to both Escudero and Garcia for comment but has yet to receive a reply as of Saturday.
Acosta’s group filed a citizens’ complaint before the Comelec legal department on Nov. 14 to have Escudero investigated for possibly violating Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code, which bans campaign contributions from “natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities with goods or services or to perform construction or other works.”
Probe terminated
This was after the Comelec also launched its own motu proprio inquiry into the same matter. But on Nov. 26, its political finance and affairs department recommended the termination of its investigation of Escudero, saying there was no evidence to support the allegation that he violated the election code.
Lubiano, whom Escudero described as a personal friend, argued he had not participated in any government contract even though he is the president of the construction firm. He added that he is “distinct and separate” from Centerways and the donation was made in a personal capacity.
For the group, however, the ruling “sets a dangerous precedent where candidates could accept donations from individuals with ties to a government contractor rather than the contractor itself to circumvent Section 95.”
In the top 15
It may be recalled that Centerways was one of the top 15 contractors that, according to President Marcos, have cornered the bulk of the flood control projects in the country.
Based on data from the Department of Public Works and Highways’ infrastructure database, Centerways bagged over 300 government contracts from 2016 up to this year, mostly in the Bicol region.
A review of the nearly 10,000 flood control projects under the Marcos administration also showed that the Sorsogon-based company established in 2009 bagged 85 projects from 2022 to 2025 worth P5.4 billion. The majority of its projects are located in Sorsogon, where Escudero served as governor from 2019 to 2022 and previously as congressman.
