Comelec: 9 contractors contributed to candidates' campaigns in Eleksyon 2025

The Commission on Elections has identified nine government contractors who allegedly donated to the campaign of some candidates in Eleksyon 2025, Comelec chairman George Garcia said on Thursday.

Garcia made the remark as the poll body started examining statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs) of the candidates who ran in the midterm elections. 

“For 2025, wala pa kaming kino-confirm na kahit sinong candidate pero more or less nine contractors,” Garcia said. 

(We have yet to confirm any 2025 candiate but we identified more or less nine contractors.)

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.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the issue of the P30 million donation by contractor Lawrence Lubiano to the campaign of Sen. Francis Escudero in Eleksyon 2022 is expected to be resolved in two weeks.

Garcia said the poll body’s Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) may issue its findings on the case before the end of the month after Escudero filed his reply to the Comelec's show-cause order (SCO).

“Asahan po ng mga kababayan natin na up to 2 weeks magkakaroon na ng resolution tungkol sa nasabing kaso,” Garcia said.

(The public may expect a resolution on the case in up to 2 weeks.)

The poll body in its SCO asked Esciudero to explain the campaign donation he received from Lubiano, the president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc.  

Escudero, represented by his legal counsel, submitted the response on Tuesday, October 14. In his affidavit, Garcia said Escudero explained that Lubiano made the campaign donation in private capacity. 

“Ang primary na binanggit ay hindi naman nya alam. Ang pagkakaalam nya ay yung pagbibigay na yun ay in private capacity at galing sa personal na pondo ni Lubiano,” Garcia said. 

(He said that he did not know. Based on his understanding, the donation was made in personal capacity and the money came from Lubiano’s own funding.)

In September, the poll body also issued an SCO against Lubiano asking him to explain his millions-worth of campaign donation to Escudero and defend why he should not be charged of an election offense for violating Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) after he admitted the donation during a House hearing.

However, he said the donation came from his private funds.

Escudero had also said Lubiano was his campaign contributor in the 2022 elections but added that he had no involvement in any flood control projects in his home province of Sorsogon and other parts of the country. –NB, GMA Integrated News