Comelec: 6 senatorial bets in 2022 received campaign donations from contractors

Six senatorial candidates in the 2022 elections received campaign donations from contractors, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday.

Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday said three of the six are incumbents.

He also said the donors were among the 55 contractors currently under investigation for alleged illegal campaign donations.

“Kinumpirma natin na maaring tatlo ay incumbent at ang tatlo ay hindi pinalad sa elections,” Garcia told reporters. 

(We are confirming that three are incumbents, while the other three lost.)

Garcia refrained from naming the candidates because of the ongoing investigation. 

To recall, the Comelec is investigating 55 contractors for allegedly donating to the campaign of several candidates in Eleksyon 2022 despite an Omnibus Election Code (OEC) provision prohibiting their donation. 

Garcia earlier said the poll body had written to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to request certifications determining whether the contractors that donated to the candidates in the 2022 polls were engaged in government contracts. 

Contractors in government projects are prohibited from contributing funds to candidates under the OEC.

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.”  –NB, GMA Integrated News