Julia Christine Botin

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<p>The Commission on Elections is set to decide on the matter of a P30 million campaign contribution given by a government contractor to ex-Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero before the 2022 elections.</p><p>Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Escudero and Centerways Construction and Development president Lawrence Lubiano have both responded to the show cause orders issued by the poll body’s political finance and affairs department regarding the P30 million donation.</p><p>He said the matter is now submitted for resolution by the PFAD if there is a violation of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits campaign donations from individuals or entities holding government contracts.</p><p>“The law does not make a distinction on whether or not a candidate wins or not, just that the liability is the same,” Garcia said, adding that both contractor and candidate can face criminal charges punishable by 1-6 years imprisonment.</p><p>Escudero earlier <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/escudero-files-reply-at-comelec-over-p30-m-campaign-donation-from-gov-t-contractor-1955">denied violating the law</a>, saying the donation was legal and fully declared. Lubiano, Escudero&#x27;s top campaign donor, earlier said the donations came from his own personal money and not from government contracts.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VO77hVKYpfU?&amp;t=7s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Lawyer Eldrige Marvin Aceron, who filed an ethics complaint against Escudero before the Senate ethics committee, earlier said Lubiano’s Metroways Health Care and Medical System won government contracts in 2021 while Escudero served as governor of Sorsogon.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UZbjICTnMJ0?&amp;t=91s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>He noted that from 2022 to 2025, Lubiano’s Centerways Construction won a total of P16.6 billion in Department of Public Works and Highways contracts concentrated in Sorsogon.</p><p>“This is not a case of a politician accepting a donation from a friend, then that friend’s company coincidentally winning contracts later. This is a case of a contractor winning government contracts under a Governor’s administration, that contractor then donating ₱30 million to that Governor’s Senate campaign, and that contractor’s other companies then winning billions more after the Governor becomes senator,&quot; he said in a statement. </p><p>The lawyer also claimed there is a ₱35 million accounting discrepancy in Centerways’ SEC filings after the firm filed three different versions of their 2022 annual financial statements.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Comelec is also set to conduct a hearing on November 21 on 27 construction firms who allegedly gave donations to candidates in the 2022 elections despite holding government contracts. The 27 are part of 54 construction firms who gave campaign contributions in the 2022 polls.</p><p>Garcia said the 27 other construction firms who do not have government contracts may not be covered by the Omnibus Election Code on donations and contributions.</p><p>Comelec is also asking the DPWH for certifications on 31 public works contractors who also have contributions to candidates in this year’s elections.</p><p>“Ang pakay ng Commission on Elections ay kasong criminal sapagkat ito ay prohibited na donasyon at ang pinaparusahan ay ang nagbigay at tumanggap,” he said.</p>

<p>The Commission on Elections is set to decide on the matter of a P30 million campaign contribution given by a government contractor to ex-Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero before the 2022 elections.</p>

The Commission on Elections is set to decide on the matter of a P30 million campaign contribution given by a government contractor to ex-Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero before the 2022 elections.

Comelec to decide if P30-M donation to Escudero violates Omnibus Election Code

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Comelec to decide if P30-M donation to Escudero violates Omnibus Election Code

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 07, 2025 11:07 AM PHT

Read More:

comelec

chiz escudero

lawrence lubiano

sorsogon

senate

campaign donation

marvin aceron

Centerways Construction

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.