Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero said he welcomes the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) show-cause order regarding allegations that he received ₱30 million in campaign donations during the 2022 elections, saying the move allows him to prove he did not violate any election laws.
In a statement, Escudero said, “We welcome the opportunity to prove that — like the others who are similarly situated in the PCIJ (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism) report on the 2022 elections — no law has been violated.”
COMELEC on Saturday confirmed that the order was issued in connection with a reported campaign contribution from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction, a company named by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as one of the contractors that secured multi-billion-peso flood control projects.
COMELEC Chairman Atty. George Erwin Garcia earlier said that Lubiano’s legal counsel attended a hearing last Wednesday, where they submitted documents and a written explanation regarding the donation.
Under Article 11 of the Omnibus Election Code, individuals or entities that hold contracts or subcontracts to supply goods or services to the government — or to perform construction — are prohibited from making campaign contributions to any candidate or political party.