Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday, 10, that it is looking into 52 contractors who donated to political candidates during the May 2022 elections.

"Fifty-two [contractors] po 'yon. Forty-three plus may nakita pa kaming siyam na para sa local officials — governors and vice governors. We found out na 'yung 43 contractors ay nagbigay sa pitong kandidato for national [elective positions], meaning, senators and legislative district congressmen, at labinlima naman na nabigyan na political parties and party-list groups," he told reporters in an interview.

(That’s fifty-two contractors. Forty-three plus we also found nine more who gave to local officials — governors and vice governors. We found out that the 43 contractors donated to seven candidates for national elective positions, meaning senators and legislative district congressmen, while fifteen gave to political parties and party-list groups.)

"Dito sa nakita naman namin para sa 9 pa construction firms, ang nabigyan naman ay 2 kandidato for governor at 2 kandidato for vice governor," he added.

(As for the nine other construction firms we found, they donated to two candidates for governor and two candidates for vice governor.)

According to Garcia, the DPWH needs to certify to them whether they had contracts before the filing of candidacy, during the filing, or after the conduct of the election.

He stated that because they want to establish proof — they're building a case — that these construction firms are indeed government contractors. 

"Pagkatapos po na maibigay sa amin [ng DPWH] ang certification ay susulatan na natin, ipapa-show-cause namin lahat ng mga contractors. At after ma-show cause namin ang contractors, ipapa-show cause naman namin ang mga kandidato na binigyan, nakinabang doon sa donations or contributions," Garcia explained.

(After the DPWH provides us with the certification, we will issue show-cause orders to all the contractors. And once we’ve done that with the contractors, we will then issue show-cause orders to the candidates who received or benefited from those donations or contributions.)

“Kasi mahirap naman po kaagad mag-conclude na porke’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,” he added. 

(Because it’s difficult to immediately conclude that just because it’s a construction firm, it automatically means public works. It’s possible that their clients are in the private sector and therefore they are allowed to donate. What is really prohibited is when government contractors make the donations.)

Once Comelec gets the certification, they will issue show-cause orders to the contractors.

In line with this, Lawrence Lubiano, President of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., who admitted that he donated P30 million to the campaign of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero when he ran in 2022, will be the first to get the order.

“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,” he explained. 

Garica also stated that the poll body will also to write Escudero for his side. 

“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 now the recipient be allowed to explain naman what is his explanation as regards to the contribution or donation received by him or her (After the contractor responds, the next step is to have the candidate explain. At least we have already established, number one, that the firm is indeed a government contractor, and number two, that it really made a donation. Then the recipient will now be allowed to give his or her explanation regarding the contribution or donation received)," Garcia said.