Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Admits Receiving P30-Million From Contractor Flagged by Marcos Jr.
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The contractor who donated P30-million for the campaign of the now-Senate President claimed it was his own money.
During his 4th SONA or State of the Nation Address, President Bongbong Marcos admitted that some flood control projects of the government were found to be a failure upon his checking. The statement of the Chief Executive came after the wrath of the Southwest Monsoon and tropical storms Crising, Dante, and Emong left several areas in the country in deep flooding.
A few weeks after his 4th SONA, Marcos Jr. revealed that the Philippines’ expenses on flood control projects have reached over P500-billion already. According to the President, the “enormous” amount was used to fund the government’s flood control deals from July 2022 to May 2025.
Marcos Jr. personally visited some flood control projects of the government. In Bulacan, Pres. Bongbong Marcos was left angry by the over P55-million “fully-paid” ‘ghost’ Riverwall project. In the same province, the President also found an incomplete flood control project made with “substandard” materials.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos called out the St. Timothy Construction which is one of the flood control project contractors that he flagged for having 20% of the government-funded flood control deals. Here are the 15 construction firms flagged by the President during a press conference:
- Legacy Construction Corporation
- Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp.
- St. Timothy Construction Corporation
- QM Builders
- EGB Construction Corporation
- Topnotch Catalyst Builders Inc.
- Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
- Sunwest, Inc.
- Hi-Tone Construction & Development Corp.
- Triple 8 Construction & Supply, Inc.
- Royal Crown Monarch Construction & Supplies Corp.
- Wawao Builders
- MG Samidan Construction
- L.R. Tiqui Builders, Inc.
- Road Edge Trading & Development Services
After the press con of Pres. Bongbong Marcos wherein he dropped the names of the above-mentioned construction firms, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero admitted a P30-million campaign donation from a contractor cited by Marcos Jr. According to the Senate Chief, the president of the Centerways Construction and Development Inc. is also from the same province as his, the Sorsogon. He also claimed that they are long-time friends.
Recently, Lawrence Lubiano, the contractor who donated P30 million for the campaign of then-senatorial candidate Chiz Escudero, appeared at the hearing led by the House Infrastructure Committee. Based on a report on GMA News, he admitted that he donated a multi-million amount to Escudero.
According to Lubiano, the money that he donated for the campaign of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero was his own money. Based on the report, he stressed that it was not from the construction company.
“Your honor, personally ko po donation or nag-donate po ako kay Senator Chiz, yung P30 million. Hindi po galing sa company ‘yun, galing po yun sa akin as a personal individual,” the contractor said.
Based on the report, Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno asked the President of the Centerways Construction if he has donated to other national or local bets three (3) years ago for the election campaign but he answered “none”.
Previously, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero linked the “flood control project contractor” issue against him to the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He also claimed that there is allegedly a “demolition job” against him seeking to remove him from his post.
However, according to the Commission on Elections or Comelec, amid the issue involving Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, government contractors are not allowed to donate funds to candidates of the election.