The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to release its decision this week on the high-profile case involving Senator Francis Escudero and his campaign donor, with another senator given until next week to explain discrepancies in his election spending report.
Escudero Campaign Donation Case Nearing Resolution
Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed that the decision regarding Senator Francis Escudero and his campaign donor Lawrence Lubiano will be released no later than Wednesday, November 26, 2025. The case has been under review by the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD), and the final disposition now rests with Commissioner-in-Charge Rey Bulay.
During an interview on Monday, November 24, 2025, Garcia emphasized that the poll body can no longer delay the decision due to significant public interest in the case. "The people have been waiting for this for a long time. We should immediately dispose of that case so that it is finally clear what will happen," Garcia stated.
The case centers on Escudero's admission that he received campaign donations from Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., during the May 2022 elections. Lubiano himself acknowledged donating P30 million to Escudero's senatorial campaign while his company held multiple government contracts.
Marcoleta Faces Show Cause Order on Election Spending
Meanwhile, Senator Rodante Marcoleta has been given until Friday of next week to explain alleged discrepancies in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) for the May 2025 elections. Comelec issued a show cause order to Marcoleta last Friday, giving him 10 days to respond to the concerns raised by the election body.
Garcia explained that they simply want clarification from the senator: "What is the reason the contributions were not included and declared by the candidate?" This question arises from Marcoleta's Soce filing, which reported receiving no campaign contributions while listing election expenses totaling P112,857,951.44.
The substantial spending has raised questions about how Marcoleta managed to spend P112.85 million during the elections when his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) showed a net worth of only P51.9 million. Marcoleta has previously stated that friends indeed donated to his 2025 campaign but he intentionally did not declare these donations to respect his donors' requests for anonymity.
Both Cases Approach Resolution
Both Escudero and Lubiano have already responded to the show cause orders issued to them by the Comelec, moving their case closer to final resolution. The upcoming decision on Wednesday will determine whether any election laws were violated in the acceptance and reporting of the P30 million campaign donation.
The separate case involving Marcoleta's election spending continues to develop, with his explanation due next week potentially determining whether further action will be taken. The Comelec's handling of these high-profile cases demonstrates the commission's increased scrutiny of campaign finance compliance among elected officials.
As Garcia noted, the public has been closely watching these developments, emphasizing the importance of transparency in political campaign financing. The decisions in both cases could set significant precedents for how the Comelec handles campaign finance violations moving forward.
