Comelec: 3-4 contractors under probe for alleged campaign contributions to 2022 national bets

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has launched an investigation into three to four public works contractors for allegedly contributing to the campaign of certain national candidates in the 2022 elections, in violation of the country’s election code.

On Friday, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body directed its Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) to conduct a motu prioprio investigation into the 2022 candidates’ Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) and identify firms with government contracts that fueled candidates’ campaigns.

“Initially may nakita na 3-4 na maaaring contractors ng public works o serbisyo sa pamahalaan na nagbigay tulong sa mga tumatakbo sa national position — yes, for senator yan pero subject pa for verification kung talagang sila ay may kontrata sa pamahalaan,” Garcia told reporters.

(We initially identified 3-4 contractors that may have government contracts that donated in the campaign of national candidates. Yes, some of them were senatoriables but it is still subject to verification if the firms have links with the government.)

According to the poll chief, Section 95 (c) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) states that “natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with goods or services or to perform construction or other works” are prohibited from making campaign donations.

“Ibig sabihin, ang pinagbabawal dun at pupwedeng maparusahan ay mismong nagbigay na contractor na nangongontrata sa pamahalaan. Kung yung mismong binigyan na tumatakbo ay liable, hindi pa namin yan nadi-discuss at wala pa kami sa puntong yan,” he added.

(This means the contractors are prohibited to donate and may face sanctions. As to whether the candidates were liable, we have yet to discuss that.)

Violators may face election offense charges, sanctionable with one to six years imprisonment.

Earlier, the Comelec said contractors in government projects are prohibited from contributing funds to candidates. This developed after Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero admitted that Lawrence Lubiano, president of the Centerways Construction and Development Inc., was his campaign contributor in the 2022 elections.

Centerways is one of the 15 contractors flagged by Marcos.

Escudero denied involvement in any flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon and other parts of the country. — BAP, GMA Integrated News