At least nine government contractors made donations to the campaigns of candidates in the May elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

The poll body had started examining the statements of contributions expenditures (SOCEs) of the candidates in the midterm elections, Comelec chairman George Garcia said in a briefing.

Garcia said the issue of the P30-million donation made by contractor Lawrence Lubiano to the campaign of Senator Francis Escudero is expected to be resolved within two weeks.

Garcia said the Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) may issue its findings on the case before the end of the month, following Escudero’s filing of his reply to the Comelec’s show-cause order (SCO).

The poll body in its SCO asked the senator to explain the campaign donation he received from Lubiano, the president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc. and reportedly his close friend. 

Escudero’s legal counsel submitted the response in which the former Senate president explained that Lubiano made the campaign donation in his private capacity. 

“The primary matter mentioned was something he wasn’t aware of. What he knew was the donation was done in a private capacity and came from Lubiano’s personal funds,” Garcia said. 

Chiz got millions 

In September, the poll body also issued an SCO to Lubiano, asking him to explain his multimillion-peso campaign donation to Escudero. He was also asked why he should not be charged with an election offense for violating Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code after he admitted the donation during a House hearing.

He, however, said the donation came from his private funds.

Escudero had also said Lubiano was his campaign contributor in the 2022 elections, but added that he was not involved in any flood control projects in his province of Sorsogon and other parts of the country.