Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA (<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will issue a show cause order against Lawrence Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., who admitted that he donated P30 million to the campaign of Senator Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero when the latter ran in 2022. </p><p>The poll body is looking into 52 contractors, one of which is Lubiano, who may have violated the Omnibus Election Code when they contributed to certain candidates during the 2022 elections. </p><p>The law prohibits government contractors from contributing to partisan political activities.</p><p>According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, these contractors may have donated to 26 candidates which includes seven national candidates—four senatorial candidates and three congressional hopefuls—15 political parties and party lists, two governors and two vice governors. </p><p>&quot;Uunahin po muna namin si Mr. Lubiano, gano&#x27;ng umamin na po siya na nagbigay siya ng donation eh. So yung mga iba, subject pa po sa confirmation ng DPWH,&quot; Garcia said. </p><p>&quot;By tomorrow we will be writing him a letter. We will issue a show cause order by our Department requiring him to explain number one, if indeed ina-admit niya yung P30M na donation. Number two and explain why he should not be charged by the Commission on Elections with an election offense as this is a prohibited donation under Section 95,&quot; he explained. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/9/3/flood-control-project-contractor-s-brothers-are-mayor-and-councilor-in-sorsogon-0103">READ: Flood control project contractor&#x27;s brothers are mayor and councilor in Sorsogon</a></div><p>Lubiano will be given five days to reply after which the poll body will also write Escudero to get his side. </p><p>&quot;After pong sumagot po yung contractor, susunod po namin yung kandidato na ipagpapaliwanagin naman. At least na-establish na namin na number one, contractor talaga yan ng pamahalaan. Number two, nagbigay talaga siya. Then let the recipient be allowed to explain naman what is his explanation as regards to the contribution or donation received by him or her,&quot; Garcia said. </p><p>In a message, Escudero said he would &quot;adhere to whatever orders may be issued  to me in order to prove that I did not violate any law.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I would also like to thank the Comelec Chair for finally affording me the chance to prove this,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/12/escudero-denies-hand-in-flood-control-projects-secured-by-campaign-donor-1516">READ: Escudero denies hand in flood control projects secured by campaign donor</a></div><p>Garcia said they had also written to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). </p><p>&quot;Kinakailangan mag-certify po sa amin ng DPWH na kung sila ay may kontrata bago ang filing ng candidacy, during the filing of the candidacy or after the conduct of the election. Kasi gusto namin patunayan, nagka-case build up po kasi kami, gusto namin patunayan na yang mga construction firms na yan ay government contractor,&quot; Garcia said. </p><p>&quot;Kasi mahirap naman po kaagad mag-conclude na porke&#x27;t construction firm ay public works kaagad yan. Puwede po kasi na nasa private ang kanilang kliyente and therefore allowed po silang. Ang bawal naman po talaga magbigay lang ay government contractors,&quot; he added. </p><p>Violating the Omnibus Election Code constitutes an election offense and Garcia said they will file criminal cases against contractors and candidates proven to have committed this. They may face one to six years imprisonment. </p><p>Garcia hopes to finish determining if there is culpability before September ends. </p><p>The Comelec leaves it to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the Ombudsman to ascertain and act on other possible liabilities. </p><p>Garcia also said they want to expand their investigation to include other possible campaign contributors such as mining companies, which, the COMELEC chair said, could have also made donations. </p><p>Senate President Vicente &quot;Tito&quot; Sotto III said the Senate can investigate its members if a complaint will be filed; the Committee on Ethics will handle this. </p><p>&quot;Wala pang dumarating na ganung complaint sa amin except for yung mga testimony. Eh yung testimony we will have to verify first,&quot; Sotto said. &quot;Unless we have a complaint then we will address it, definitely.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VO77hVKYpfU" title="Centerways owner clarifies donation to Chiz in 2022 came from own pocket | ABS CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday it was looking into 52 contractors who could have donated to 26 candidates in the 2022 elections.</p>

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday it was looking into 52 contractors who could have donated to 26 candidates in the 2022 elections.

Comelec seeks Lubiano explanation on Chiz Escudero campaign contribution, looking into 51 other contractors

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Comelec seeks Lubiano explanation on Chiz Escudero campaign contribution, looking into 51 other contractors

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 10, 2025 01:23 PM PHT

|

Updated September 10, 2025 07:37 PM PHT

Read More:

contractor

Comelec

George Garcia

Comelec

contractors

george garcia

lawrence lubiano

centerways construction

Chiz Escudero

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