Comelec to Marcoleta: Explain undisclosed campaign spending

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it has directed Senator Rodante Marcoleta to explain the alleged non-disclosure of the latter's election donors in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for the May 2025 elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Marcoleta was issued a show-cause order (SCO) and was given 10 days to respond to questions about the alleged omission of campaign donors and the discrepancy between his SOCE and his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).

"Nung Friday na-issue na show cause order para paliwanag niya tungkol sa discrepancy nakita sa SALN at SOCE," Garcia told reporters.

(We issued the SCO last Friday to compel him to explain the discrepancy between his SOCE and SALN.)

"Paliwanag pa lang naman. Para ma-settle ang issue na yan. Dapat kasi file SOCE, dapat nakalatag lahat. Ano dahilan bakit ‘di naisama ibinigay sa kandidato," he added.

(It's just an explanation to settle the issue. When candidates file SOCEs, it should contain all information, so we want to know why he did not disclose that.)

Garcia said he is considering inhibiting himself from the case due to a previous professional relationship with the lawmaker.

Marcoleta has previously admitted he did not declare the contributions he received for the 2025 May elections in his SOCE, as his donors requested anonymity.

According to his SOCE, the senator spent P139.9 million for his campaign in the midterm elections—far higher than his declared SALN of about P52 million.

Escudero case

Meanwhile, Garcia said the poll body may release its disposition in the case of Senator Chiz Escudero on Wednesday, November 26.

The poll chief said the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) submitted its recommendation to the Comelec en banc last week.

He added it is now up to Commissioner-in-charge Rey Bulay to determine whether the resolution requires approval from the full commission.

"Although nag-inhibit ako, ang gusto ko sana personally at all cost ilabas na disposition.... Matagal na inaantay ng sambayanan yan. They should immediately dispose that case para maliwanag na ano mangyayari sa kaso," Garcia said.

(While I have inhibited myself from the case, I personally want the disposition issued at all costs. The public has been waiting for this. They should immediately dispose of the case to clarify what will happen.)

The Comelec issued SCOs against Escudero and Centerways Construction and Development Inc. President Lawrence Lubiano to explain the P30 million in donations the senator received from the contractor for his 2022 senatorial bid.

Lubiano donated to Escudero's campaign despite a provision in the Omnibus Election Code prohibiting government contractors from making election contributions.

According to Sumbong?sa?Pangulo data, Centerways Construction won about P5.1?billion in flood?control contracts from 2022 to 2024.

During a House hearing in September, Lubiano admitted having donated to Escudero's campaign kitty, but claimed that the money came from his own pocket, and not from the firm Centerways.—MCG, GMA Integrated News