SC to review Comelec ruling on contractor’s donation for Escudero campaign

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has accepted a petition seeking to review a ruling by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that cleared Senator Chiz Escudero over a P30-million campaign donation he received from government contractor Lawrence Lubiano.

In an en banc resolution dated February 18, the High Court granted the petition filed by John Barry Tayam, a private citizen, to review poll body’s decision.

In November 2025, Comelec’s Political Finance and Affairs Department ruled that Escudero did not violate election laws in accepting the donation. It also found that Lubiano did not breach any rules by contributing to the Escudero campaign.

Under Section 95 (c) of the Election Code, “any natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or sub-contracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions or instrumentalities, with goods or services or to perform construction or other works” are prohibited from making campaign donations “for purposes of partisan political activity.”

A Rappler investigation earlier showed that Lubiano, owner of Centerways Construction — one of the country’s top flood control contractors — was Escudero’s biggest campaign donor.

Following the report, Comelec launched a motu proprio investigation. The controversy, among other factors, eventually led to Escudero’s ouster as Senate president.

Escudero also allegedly received kickbacks from flood control projects, based on a testimony during a Senate investigation. This, however, was denied by Escudero. – Rappler.com