Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Atty. George Erwin Garcia confirmed that he will inhibit himself once the agency begins its investigation into the ₱30-million campaign donation made by Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., to Senator Chiz Escudero during the 2022 elections.
The issue arose after Lubiano’s company was listed among the Top 15 contractors of flood control projects recently released by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
“[I] will inhibit, especially in the case of Sen. Chiz Escudero, because I have served before as his lawyer. We will do that when he is officially and formally required to respond to the invitation to provide a counter-affidavit,” Garcia told reporters in an interview at the COMELEC main office in Intramuros, Manila.
Garcia had previously served as Escudero’s election lawyer before his appointment as COMELEC chair. He also represented Marcos in his 2016 election protest against then–Vice President, now Naga City Mayor, Leni Robredo.
Under the Omnibus Election Code, candidates are prohibited from accepting contributions “for purposes of partisan political activity” from individuals or entities with contracts with the government.
Last week, COMELEC confirmed that it had issued a show-cause order to Lubiano, directing him to explain why he should not be held liable. Garcia added that, to date, Lubiano has yet to comply.