DPWH: 27 public works contractors donated to Eleksyon 2022 candidates

Twenty-seven out of the 54 contractors who are being investigated by Commission on Elections for alleged illegal campaign contributions in the May 2022 elections have existing contracts with the government, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In a certification sent to the Comelec, the DPWH said 26 other contractors were private contractors. 

"Sa hinihingi natin na certification kung sila ba ay government contractors, sabi ng DPWH, 27 ang government contractors na mula pa 2010 onwards hanggang 2025," poll chief George Erwin Garcia told reporters.

(Based on the certification we requested, the DPWH said 27 were government contractors from 2010 to 2025.)

"'Yung 26 naman, sabi nila hindi ito mga public works contractors," he said. 

(Twenty-six of the remaining ones were not public work contractors.)

The Comelec, through the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD), will issue show-cause orders (SCOs) to the contractors and the candidates to explain the donations.

After the issuance, the PFAD will make recommendations to the law department on the resolution of the cases.

"Vine-verify pa natin kasi sa PFAD... pero once naissue na natin ang show cause orders, bibigay na natin sa publiko sino mga nabigyan nila ng donations," said Garcia.

(We're still verifying how many candidates benefited from the donations but once we issue the SCOs, we will tell the public their names.)

"Hindi porke mag issue ng show cause ay guilty na po. Pinasasagot pa natin kasi baka naman may dahilan sila," he said.

(An SCO is not an indication of guilt. We want them to explain.)

The poll body previously requested the certification to the DPWH to determine if the contractors were government contractors. It was transmitted to the Comelec on Friday, October 24, 2025.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the DPWH excluded Centerways Construction and Development Inc.—whose president Lawrence Lubiano previously admitted to donating to the 2022 senatorial bid of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero—as he was named in the SOCE as an individual.

"Hindi siya corporation. Hindi yun sinama ng DPWH sa certification nila," he said.

(He was named as individual so he was not included by the DPWH.)

31 contractors in 2025 

Meanwhile, Garcia said the PFAD submitted a request with the DPWH to likewise certify if the 31 contractors found to have donated to the May 2025 bets were public works contractors.

At least 21 candidates received donations from contractors. Earlier, the Comelec said six of them were senatorial bets. 

"Kahapon din nagpadala ang PFAD ng sulat sa DPWH para sa 31 naman na mga possible public works contractors para sa 2025 national and local elections," he added.

(The PFAD sent a letter to the DPWH for the 31 contractors who donated to candidates of 2025 May polls.)

OEC

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. — BM, GMA Integrated News