George Garcia, Comelec Chairman, Speaks on Show Cause Order to Escudero
COMELEC – The Commission on Elections confirmed the issuance of a show cause order to Senator Chiz Escudero over the P30-million campaign donation to him by a contractor.
After President Bongbong Marcos revealed that the country has already spent P545-billion for the flood control projects from July 2022 to May 2025 and around P100 billion went to 15 contractors, then-Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero admitted to receiving P30-million from one of the contractors flagged by Marcos Jr. He claimed that the contractor is his long-time friend who is also from Sorsogon.
Lawrence Lubiano, the president of the Centerways Construction and Development Inc., was invited by the Senate and the House of Representatives in their flood hearing. According to the contractor, his P30-million campaign donation to Sen. Chiz Escudero came from his own pocket. Prior to it, the Comelec confirmed that contractors with existing contracts with the government are prohibited to donate to election candidates.
During a flood probe in the House of Representatives, Lubiano also revealed that his brothers are mayor and councilor in Sorsogon. The Comelec previously confirmed investigation of the illegal campaign donations in the 2022 Elections and said there are at least 52 contractors being probed.
Recently, based on a report on GMA News, the Comelec confirmed that it has issued a show cause order against Sen. Chiz Escudero. According to the poll-body’s chairman, George Garcia, they already sent the show cause order to Escudero yesterday.
Based on the report, the Comelec Chairman also revealed that the hearing on the issue regarding Sen. Chiz Escudero is set on October 13. Aside from the campaign donation issue, the Senator is also accused of flood control corruption.
During a Senate flood probe, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo claimed that Sen. Chiz Escudero allegedly received a P160-million kickback from the flood control projects. The Senator denied the allegation.
Aside from the show cause order and the flood control corruption allegations, Sen. Chiz Escudero is also facing a complaint filed at the Senate ethics committee to which he responded by mentioning former House Speaker Martin Romualdez again.