Comelec chief Garcia to inhibit in possible case vs. Escudero

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia on Monday said he will recuse himself should a case be filed against Senator Francis Escudero over allegedly prohibited campaign contributions he received during the 2022 elections.

Escudero was a client of Garcia when the poll chief was practicing as an election lawyer.

“[I] will inhibit, especially in the case of Sen. Chiz Escudero, because I have served before as his lawyer.

We will do that when he is officially and formally required to respond to the invitation to provide a counter-affidavit,” Garcia said in an interview at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Escudero earlier admitted to receiving campaign donation from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., the top flood control contractor in Sorsogon province, when he ran for senator in 2022.

Lubiano has reportedly donated PHP30 million to Escudero’s campaign.

The Omnibus Election Code prohibits candidates from accepting contributions “for purposes of partisan political activity” from, among others, individuals with contracts with the government.

Last week, the Comelec sent a show cause order for Lubiano to appear before the Commission. He has yet to respond, according to Garcia.

“This is to allow him to explain and to provide answers to the questions regarding his donation of PHP30 million to a candidate for a current senator,” the poll chief said.

Meanwhile, Garcia said they will reveal the names of the companies that supposedly contributed to campaign funds of politicians once they receive confirmation from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

“As soon as we get certification from the DPWH, we will release the list of contractors. We just want to know which among the 52 construction companies, how many are really government contractors, and how many are really private (contractors),” he said.

“Once the certifications are released from the DPWH, we will release the list to the public, and we will write to them one by one and invite them to attend the hearing,” Garcia added.