Escudero’s ₱30-Million Campaign Donation Sparks Questions on Election Law Integrity

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is under heightened scrutiny following revelations that his 2022 campaign allegedly received a ₱30-million donation from a government contractor, raising concerns over the enforcement of the country’s campaign finance laws.

The donation came from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., a company involved in multimillion-peso flood-control projects. Lubiano admitted that he made the contribution in his personal capacity and not through the firm. Escudero, for his part, asserted that the donation was properly declared in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

Legal Prohibition

Under Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code, government contractors are prohibited from donating to political campaigns. The law applies to both corporations and individuals with active government contracts, regardless of whether the funds came from personal or corporate resources.

Election watchdogs emphasize that this prohibition aims to prevent conflicts of interest and to ensure public projects are not used as leverage for political influence. Legal experts argue that even donations made with personal funds could still fall under the prohibition if the donor is a government contractor.

Investigation Underway

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) confirmed that its Political Finance and Affairs Department is reviewing campaign records from the 2022 polls. Chairman George Erwin Garcia revealed that as many as 31 government contractors have been flagged as possible donors during the period.

Contractors proven to have violated the law may face penalties, including one to six years of imprisonment, disqualification from public office, and sanctions against their firms. However, the issue of whether candidates who accepted such donations should also be held liable remains legally unsettled.

Broader Implications

The controversy has reignited calls for stronger enforcement of election laws and greater transparency in campaign financing. Critics point out that while prohibitions are clearly stated in the Election Code, accountability is often weak or selective.

Some political commentators have urged an independent probe to ensure impartiality, warning that investigations influenced by politics could erode public trust further.

A Test of Political Will

Escudero insists that his campaign acted within the bounds of the law. For now, Comelec continues its review, with many observers noting that the case could become a litmus test of whether Philippine election authorities can enforce campaign finance rules consistently — even against high-profile figures.