Garcia: 26 contractors so far donated to campaign of May 2025 poll bets

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia

MANILA, Philippines — The number of contractors who may have violated the election code by donating funds to the campaign of candidates in the May 2025 elections has risen to 26, according to Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia on Wednesday.

Garcia said that the Comelec is aiming to finish reviewing all the statements of contribution (SOCEs) and expenditures of all candidates in the 2025 midterm elections by Friday.

“As of yesterday, we saw that 26 contractors may have violated the unlawful, illegal contribution,” the poll chief told reporters in an interview.

READ: Comelec to release resolution on Escudero campaign donation case

Section 95(c) of the OEC states that “[n]o 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 subcontracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities with goods or services, or to perform construction or other works.”

The last part of Section 95 also states that “[i]t shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or receive any contribution from any of the persons or entities enumerated herein.”

Garcia shared that around 14 candidates received donations from the contractors.

He said that of this figure, six were senatorial candidates, two were party-list representatives, three were congressional district representatives, one from a national political party, and two gubernatorial candidates.

Garcia also noted that after the poll body has completed reviewing SOCEs and identified the contractors who donated to election candidates, it will send a request to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Monday to determine which in the list secured contracts with the government.

READ: Comelec: Chiz affidavit says he thought P30M was ‘private fund’

He reiterated that the Comelec will only issue a show-cause order to those who are identified by the DPWH as government contractors.

He explained that the certification from DPWH is important in the poll body’s ongoing case buildup.

“There needs to be strong evidence because remember, this is a criminal case,” Garcia pointed out.

He earlier said that the poll body’s purpose is to prosecute if individuals are criminally charged.

He added that they may face one to six years of imprisonment, and the candidates may face perpetual disqualification from holding public office if proven to be guilty by final judgment. /apl