Comelec Panel Recommends Dropping Probe Into Senator Escudero's Campaign Funds
The Political Finance and Affairs Department of the Commission on Elections has officially recommended stopping the investigation into Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero and businessman Lawrence Lubiano regarding alleged prohibited campaign contributions during the May 2022 national elections.
In a resolution dated Wednesday, November 26, 2025, the Comelec-PFAD concluded that there was no evidence to support claims that election laws had been violated in connection with the P30 million donation made by Lubiano to Escudero's senatorial campaign.
Legal Basis for Terminating the Investigation
The department emphasized that Lawrence Lubiano did not violate Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code when he contributed to Escudero's campaign. According to their findings, Lubiano made the donation in his personal capacity rather than using corporate funds from his company, Centerways Construction and Development Inc.
"When respondent Lubiano contributed to the campaign of respondent Escudero, the former merely exercised a right that is personal to him," stated the Comelec-PFAD in their resolution. The department further clarified that no evidence was found establishing that the funds originated from Centerways or that corporate money had entered Escudero's campaign funds through Lubiano's contribution.
The resolution explicitly stated: "There being no violation of Section 95(c) of OEC committed by respondent Lubiano, it necessarily follows that the subsequent acceptance of contribution by respondent Escudero for his election campaign suffers no legal impediment."
Immediate Approval and Commissioner's Statement
Commissioner Rey Bulay, who serves as the Commissioner-in-Charge for the matter, immediately affirmed the PFAD recommendation. In an interview on Wednesday, Bulay explained that since there were no opposing views on the recommendation, the resolution did not need to be elevated to the Comelec en banc.
"Basically, walang adversarial sa recommendations kaya walang recourse kundi... PFAD is Comelec, Comelec is PFAD... We adopt," Bulay stated. He added, "Ang aming naging Resolution ay hindi na pumanhik sa en banc kasi walang contrary opinion sa decision ng PFAD. Ang action ko ay instruction to terminate the investigation."
The investigation was initiated motu proprio, meaning the Comelec launched it on its own authority rather than in response to a formal complaint. Both Escudero and Lubiano had previously acknowledged the campaign donation, with Lubiano confirming he contributed P30 million to Escudero's successful senatorial bid while his company held several government contracts.
The Comelec-PFAD's recommendation effectively closes this chapter of election-related inquiries, clearing both individuals of any wrongdoing in connection with the 2022 election campaign financing.
