Comelec: 6 more senators received donations from contractors

Commission on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia — File photo by Marianne Bermudez/Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines—Six more senators received campaign donations from contractors, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Tuesday.

Garcia noted that the donors of these senators are among the 55 contractors who contributed during the 2022 electionsbased on Comelec’s Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce).

“Around six, if I am not mistaken,” Garcia said in Filipino in a radio dzMM interview when asked whether there are additional senators who received campaign donations from contractors.

READ: Comelec show-cause order issued vs Escudero over P30M donation

Garcia, however, refused to divulge their identities pending the results of Comelec’s investigation.

A poll watchdog, however, urged Garcia to publicize the names of these senators, noting that Soces are public documents.

“For transparency, it is necessary for Garcia to provide the names not just of senators but also of the flagged donors,” said Danilo Arao, convenor of Kontra Daya, in a message to Inquirer.

Not unlawful per se

However, Garcia explained that contractors donating to politicians are not necessarily violating the law.

While Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code prohibits campaign contributions from natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply the government—or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities—with goods or services, or to perform construction or other works, private contractors are not included in this prohibition.

He also noted that some of the 55 contractors operate in industries such as glass, aluminum, and real estate, all of which belong to the private sector.

Escudero’s case

In the case of Sen. Francis Escudero, his campaign contributor Lawrence Lubiano admitted to working in a company involved in government projects.

Lubiano, one of the 55 contractors under Comelec’s scrutiny, said he donated P30 million to Escudero’s campaign.

He has already appeared before the poll body and reiterated that the donation was made “in his personal capacity” as a “friend,” not on behalf of the construction company, according to Garcia.

Escudero, who acknowledged receiving Lubiano’s donation, is expected to appear before the poll body on Oct. 13 in line with Comelec’s show-cause order.

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

Garcia also wanted to disabuse the notion that Escudero was being singled out.

“The truth is, their case came out first because the public works contractor admitted that the P30 million was provided and received,” he said.

54 other contractors

For the other 54 contractors, Garcia said the Comelec is still waiting for feedback from the Department of Public Works and Highways to determine if they were involved in government projects.

He said these contractors contributed to the campaigns of presidential and vice presidential candidates, as well as local candidates in the House of Representatives, governors, and vice governors.

He also did not divulge the names of the 54 other contractors.

“At this point, it’s very unfair if we reveal the 54 and they turn out to be private contractors,” the Comelec chief said.

Several contractors have recently made headlines over their suspected role in colluding with lawmakers and government officials to embezzle billions of pesos from the country’s coffers in a major corruption scandal involving flood control projects, which has prompted congressional probes and the formation of an independent commission./mcm