Manila, Philippines – Amidst the anomalies and corruption issues tied with the flood control scandal, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) pushes through its own investigation regarding 2022 election candidates who received donations from contractors.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said that the commission is now under the process of checking the candidates’ Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), from where they track which candidates received campaign donations and contributions, particularly coming from government contractors.
The issue on prohibited contributions on candidates caught the public eye following recent revelations linking government contractors and some lawmakers to the flood control scandal.
It can be recalled that during the House inquiry on flood control anomalies, Centerways Construction and Development Inc. President Lawrence Lubiano admitted that he donated P30 million to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s 2022 senatorial campaign.
Lubiano, however, claimed that the donations were personal and private, and were not under the company.
Article XI Section 95 (c) of Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines prohibits persons with government contracts to give contributions to individuals for the purposes of partisan political activity.
Under the said law, both the contractor and the politician involved are to be held liable with the offense, with one to six years of imprisonment, and possible perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
While this is an election offense, Garcia clarified that Comelec cannot disqualify incumbent officials convicted, as this is outside their power and jurisdiction.
Garcia noted that these officials’ disqualification or removal from office will depend on the Supreme Court’s ruling, an order from the Interior and Local Government Department, and/or through the Office of the Ombudsman.
In relation to the issue of campaign donations on Escudero, Garcia said that Lubiano’s lawyer has appeared before the commission, while the senator has already sent a letter requesting for his appearance before COMELEC.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News