Top flood contractor admits P30-million donation to Escudero's campaign but...

MANILA, Philippines — Centerways Construction and Development Inc. President Lawrence Lubiano admitted he donated P30 million to Sen. Chiz Escudero's senatorial campaign in the 2022 elections while his firm held government contracts. 

In Rep. Chel Diokno's (Akbayan Party-list) line of questioning, Lubiano made it clear he is aware of how his family has been bidding for flood control projects since 2009. Giving a ballpark figure, he said Centerways Construction won roughly 80 projects from 2022 to 2025.

Centerways Construction was named one of the top 15 contractors that bagged flood control projects during the first half of the Marcos administration.

Lubiano also confirmed that most of the flood control projects his family's firm won were located in Sorsogon, Bicol. Asked for the count, he could only recall around 30. 

However, Diokno said data from the Sumbong sa Pangulo website reveals around 50 to 53 flood control contracts awarded to Centerways Construction.  

Philstar.com found 53 flood control projects listed from 2022 to 2024 under Centerways Construction's control as of Tuesday, September 2. This amounted to over P5.1 billion, excluding two multi-year contracts that lack specific project costs.

Even during the 2022 national elections, a year when Lubiano's firm still secured contracts, he said he made donations to a candidate. That was Senate President Chiz Escudero, whom Lubiano said was the only local or national candidate he ever donated to. 

"In the last elections, the last two cycles of elections, 2022 and 2025, kayo po ba ay nagbigay ng donasyon sa sinuman kumandidato whether local or national?" Diokno asked.

(In the last elections, the last two cycles of elections, 2022 and 2025, did you donate to any candidate whether local or national?)

"Yes po," Lubiano answered. 

"Kanino po (To whom)?" Diokno pressed. 

"Kay Sen. Chiz po (To Sen. Chiz)," Lubiano said. 

"Aside from Sen. Escudero, may I know if there have been any other candidates for either national or local positions that you made donations to?" the lawmaker asked.  

"Wala na po (No more)," Lubiano said. 

In 2022, Centerways Construction bagged around 25 flood control contracts worth over P1.29 billion. Twenty of which were slated for Sorsogon, also known as Esucdero's home province. 

Since reports revealed that Escudero benefited from donations of a top contractor's very own president, the Senate president denied involvement in any flood control projects linked to the construction firm. He, however, admitted to receiving donations from Lubiano, but only in the latter's personal capacity.

Interestingly, though, Lubiano only clarified this after Diokno had finished asking him questions. A person behind him tapped Lubiano on the shoulder, prompting him to tell the committee that the donation did not come from Centerways Construction. 

"Personal po [ang aking] donation or nagdonate po ako kay Sen. Chiz, 'yung P30 million. Hindi po galing sa company 'yun. Galing po 'yun sa akin as a personal individual," he said. 

(I personally made the donation to Sen. Chiz in my personal capacity, the P30 million. It was not from the company. It came from me as a personal individual.) 

Diokno also asked whether he had any family members holding government positions. Lubiano confirmed he had two brothers, one serves as the mayor of a town in Sorsogon, while the other serves as a city councilor. 

He, however, no longer named his brothers and the town they served. Diokno also did not interrogate further. 

According to the Omnibus Election Code, candidates are prohibited from receiving donations from "natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government or any of its divisions... with goods or services or to perform construction or other works." 

The House Infra Committee invited the top 15 contractors, including Syms Construction Trading Corp., to the first hearing on the anomalous flood control projects. Only 11 were present, one of which was Lubiano's firm.

All of those present denied involvement in ghost flood control projects.

The remaining five skipped the hearing with no explanation, causing the joint panel to issue subpoenas and compel them to attend the next hearing.