Election watchdog Kontra Daya, together with six allied groups, has lodged a formal complaint before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) against two government contractors for allegedly making prohibited campaign donations during the 2022 national elections.
Named as respondents were Rodolfo Hilot Jr., president of Rudhil Construction Enterprises Inc., and Glenn Escandor, president of ESDEVCO Realty Corporation and Genesis 88 Constructions Inc. Both reportedly had active government contracts at the time of the elections.
Under Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code, individuals or entities with existing government contracts are barred from making political contributions to prevent conflicts of interest and undue influence.
The complaint cited official Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), which allegedly documented the donations.
Records identified President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte as recipients of the contributions.
A report from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) indicated that Hilot donated ₱20 million to the Marcos campaign, while Escandor allegedly spent ₱19.9 million for Duterte’s election advertisements.
“The law is clear—government contractors are prohibited from funding electoral campaigns to prevent conflicts of interest and undue influence in governance,” Kontra Daya said in a statement.
The group emphasized that accountability should extend to both donors and recipients.
“This case highlights both sides of liability—the act of giving and the act of receiving prohibited contributions. Accountability must apply to all parties involved,” it added.
Kontra Daya has called on COMELEC to conduct an impartial investigation and pursue appropriate legal action against those found responsible for the alleged violations.