Chiz Escudero welcomes Comelec show-cause order: ‘No law violated’

Sen. Francis `Chiz’ Escudero.

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Escudero on Saturday welcomed the show-cause order issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), insisting that there was no violation of any law with a contractor’s donation for his 2022 senatorial campaign.

“We welcome the opportunity to prove that — like the others who are similarly situated in the PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) report on the 2022 elections — no law has been violated,” Escudero said in a statement.

This was in response to the Comelec’s show-cause order prodding him to appear before the poll body’s office on Oct. 13 to explain the P30 million donation he received from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., for his 2022 senatorial bid.

READ: Comelec-show-cause-order-issued-vs-escudero-over-p30m-donation/

Comelec Chair George Garcia disclosed on Saturday that the show-cause had been issued to Escudero.

According to Garcia, the proceedings will determine whether the donation violated the Omnibus Election Code, particularly Section 95, which prohibits any contribution from any public or private institution, including contractors, to any political candidate or political party.

Escudero himself confirmed that Centerways Construction donated P30 million for his campaign, but insisted that the company was not able to secure any flood control projects from the government. /mr