Ethics complaint filed vs. Chiz Escudero over P30-M campaign donation by contractor

A complaint has been filed before the Senate Committee on Ethics against Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero over the P30-million campaign donation he received in 2022 from contractor Lawrence Lubiano.

According to a report on "State of the Nation," the lawyer-complainant alleged that the donation placed in jeopardy the integrity of the Senate as an institution.

Lubiano, the president of Centerways Construction and Development, Inc., told a congressional inquiry that the donation came from his personal funds and not from the company.

He said Escudero also disclosed his donation and his name as a campaign donor in the senator's statement of contributions and expenditures.

Under the Omnibus Election Code, those who have contracts with the government are prohibited from making contributions to partisan political activity.

In a statement, Escudero said he was no longer surprised by the complaint. 

He said it was the consequence of his remarks against Speaker Martin Romualdez in a recent manifestation in the Senate plenary.

Escudero said the complaint was also part of the script and a desperate cover-up.

GMA News Online is trying to get Romualdez's comment.

In a statement, Romualdez said Escudero's manifestation that he was behind the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte was meant to position himself as an ally of the Vice President in the 2028 elections.

He said Escudero's remarks were from a Duterte Diehard Supporters' (DDS) script, calling them rehashed and false.  –NB, GMA Integrated News