Geline Salac

Flood control project contractor’s brothers are mayor and councilor in Sorsogon

Article (news)

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — A contractor of flood control projects told the House Infra Committee that two of his brothers are elected officials in Sorsogon, where many of his firm’s infrastructure projects are located.During the joint House panel hearing on Tuesday, Centerways Construction and Development Inc. President Lawrence Lubiano said one of his brothers was elected Mayor of a town in Sorsogon, and another, a councilor.Lubiano also disclosed that of his company’s 80 projects from 2022 to 2025, around 30 are in Sorsogon. “Mayroon po ba kayong asawa, kamag anak, kapamilya na nasa gobyerno ngayon?” Akbayan Party List Representative Chel Diokno asked.“Yes po, your honor. Kapatid ko po, your honor. Mayor po sa isang bayan sa Sorsogon. Brother ko po city councilor din po,” Lubiano replied.“Mga ilan ang government contracts ng Centerways, as far as you know?” Diokno inquired further.“Yung mga na-bid po namin, I think from 2022 to 2025, nasa 80 po. More on Bicol po. Sorsogon. Siguro mga 30 po (sa Sorsogon),” Lubiano answered.Centerways was among the construction companies flagged by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who noted that only 15 contractors bagged about P100 billion or 20 percent of nearly 10,000 flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025.<div>CAMPAIGN DONATION</div>Lubiano confirmed donating P30 million to the 2022 campaign of Senate President Francis Escudero.But Lubiano stressed that the donation was done in his personal capacity, and that the funds did not come from his company.“This was during the time when you already have government projects, is that right?” Diokno asked.“Yes po, since 2009 po… Your honor… nagdonate po ako kay Sen. Chiz, ‘yung P30 million, hindi po galing sa company ‘yun, galing po ‘yun sa akin as a personal individual,” Lubiano clarified.Last month, Escudero confirmed the donation made by Lubiano, who he said is a “friend”, but denied helping his firm win contracts for flood control projects.According to documents released by Escudero to the media, Centerways won about P5.4 billion in contracts from 2020 to 2024. The projects were in Region 5 and Region 6.

Lubiano confirmed donating P30 million to the 2022 campaign of Senate President Francis Escudero.

Lubiano confirmed donating P30 million to the 2022 campaign of Senate President Francis Escudero.