Comelec to summon contractors over 2022 campaign donations
MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections will seek explanations from 52 contractors who allegedly donated to candidates during the 2022 elections, including Lawrence Lubiano, who has admitted to donating P30 million to Sen. Chiz Escudero's senatorial campaign while his firm held government contracts.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said Wednesday, September 10, the agency will issue show-cause orders requiring the contractors to explain within five days why they should not face prosecution under campaign finance laws that bar government contractors from making contributions to candidates during elections.
"After the DPWH provides us with certification, we will issue show-cause orders to all the contractors," Garcia told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino. "Once we've done that with the contractors, we will then issue show-cause orders to the candidates who received or benefited from those donations."
Lubiano will receive a show cause order tomorrow, Garcia said, after the Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president publicly admitted the donation during a recent House hearing on flood control projects.
"We will issue a show cause order requiring him to explain number one, if indeed he admits the P30 million donation, and number two, explain why he should not be charged with an election offense," Garcia said.
Escudero will be sent his own show cause order after Lubiano responds, which Garcia says is part of Comelec's approach to building cases against both donors and recipients.
By then, the Comelec chairperson said, "(At) least we have already established that the firm is indeed a government contractor and that it really made a donation," Garcia said.
"Then the recipient will be allowed to give his explanation regarding the contribution received," he added.
The poll body's investigation has expanded from an initial 15 contractors to 52 as its Political Finance and Affairs Department continues reviewing campaign finance records.
Garcia said 43 contractors donated to seven candidates for national positions — senators and legislative district congressmen — and 15 political parties and party-list groups.
The additional nine construction firms gave donations to two candidates for governor and two candidates for vice governor, Garcia said.
The Comelec will start looking into contractors who made illegal donations in the 2025 elections starting Monday, Garcia said.
DPWH key to prosecutions
Garcia stressed that establishing whether firms held active government contracts during the donation period is critical to proving violations.
The Department of Public Works and Highways must certify which companies had contracts before, during or after the elections, the Comelec chairperson said.
"It's difficult to immediately conclude that just because it's a construction firm, it automatically means public works," Garcia said. "What is really prohibited is when government contractors make the donations."
Companies working exclusively with private clients remain legally permitted to make political contributions, Garcia noted.
However, besides contractors for public works projects, Garcia said the Political Finance and Affairs Department has also uncovered potential violations by mining corporations.
"Mining corporations are also prohibited from giving donations or contributions under our laws, as well as those with franchises from the government," Garcia said.
Both donors and recipients face prison terms of one to six years if violations are proven under Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code.
Candidates who received prohibited donations while holding government positions also face potential administrative sanctions.
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