Comelec denies singling out Chiz in probe into campaign donations

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday denied it is singling out Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on the illegal campaign donations issue, reiterating it is investigating 55 contractors suspected of making prohibited donations in the 2022 elections.  

“With all due respect, 'yung nagsi-single out kami, hindi naman po. Hindi makatotohanan 'yun,” poll chief George Erwin Garcia told reporters.

(With all due respect, it is not true we are singling out candidates.)

“Kaya lang nauna ang kay Sen. Chiz Escudero sapagkat umamin ang mismong contractor at pati rin siya ay nagsabi na nakatanggap siya ng donation mula sa contractor,” he said.

(Senator Chiz Escudero was investigated first because he and the contractor admitted to the donation.)

The Comelec earlier said it is looking into 55 contractors suspected of making illicit campaign donations in the May 2022 polls. Garcia said the poll body wrote to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to request for certifications to determine whether they were engaged in government contracts at the time of the campaign donation but the agency has yet to respond. 

“Kung magkakaroon kami ng confirmation from the DPWH tungkol sa mga iba pang kandidato at contractors, hindi mag-aatubili ang Comelec na ipagpatuloy ang proseso. This time, kung sino ang confirmed na contractor ng pamahalaan, 'yung mga kandidato o politiko na nakatanggap ay makakatanggap na rin ng notice mula sa Comelec,” he added.

(Once we receive the confirmation from the DPWH, the Comelec will continue the process. This time, the candidates as well as the contractors who were confirmed to have government links when they made the donation will receive notices from us.)

In his manifestation on the Senate floor on Monday, Escudero lamented being singled out on the issue of illegal campaign donation in the 2022 polls. 

The poll body is set to issue a show-cause order (SCO) against Escudero to ask him to explain the P30 million campaign donation he received from Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president Lawrence Lubiano for his 2022 senatorial bid. Lubiano had said he donated out of his own pocket.

This comes after Lubiano was issued an SCO by Comelec and had appeared, through his legal representative, for a meeting with the poll body's Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) following his admittance during a House hearing that he donated to Escudero’s election campaign. 

Prohibition

Contractors in government projects are prohibited from contributing funds to candidates under the Omnibus Election Code.

Under Article XI Section 95 covering electoral contributions and expenditures, the Omnibus Election Code states:

"SECTION 95. Prohibited contributions. – No contribution for purposes of partisan political activity shall be made directly or indirectly by any of the following:

(c) 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.

2025 SOCEs

Meanwhile, Garcia said the Comelec has also started its investigation into the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) of the Eleksyon 2025 candidates. 

“Sinimulan na ng PFAD ang pagtingin sa 2025. In fact, mayroon na silang initial na listahan at sinabi natin na sana makita na agad kung may possible contractors na involved o may kontrata sa pamahalaan,” he said. 

(The PFAD is now probing the 2025 SOCEs. In fact, they now have an initial list and we urge them to swiftly identify the possible government contractors.)

The Comelec chief likewise said he instructed the PFAD to look into the SOCEs of Eleksyon 2022 bets to determine if there were other possible illegal campaign donors to their election campaign such as mining corporations. —KG, GMA Integrated News

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