The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is poised to make a crucial decision regarding a high-profile case involving Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero and his campaign donor Lawrence Lubiano, with a ruling expected by next Wednesday.
Escudero's P30 Million Campaign Donation Under Scrutiny
Comelec Chairman George Garcia confirmed in an interview on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, that the agency's Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) has already submitted its recommendation to the Comelec en banc regarding the controversial case. The case centers on Lubiano's admission that he donated P30 million to Escudero's senatorial campaign during the 2022 elections, while his company, Centerways Construction and Development Inc., held multiple government contracts.
"No later than Wednesday of next week, hopefully, the Comelec will have a disposition on that matter," Garcia stated, while declining to reveal the specific recommendations made by the PFAD. He emphasized that the Comelec en banc is not obligated to follow the findings of the department, indicating the commission's independent authority in this matter.
Show Cause Orders and Marcoleta's Questionable SOCE
Both Escudero and Lubiano have responded to separate show cause orders (SCOs) issued by the poll body. Meanwhile, the Comelec has announced it will also issue an SCO against Senator Rodante Marcoleta concerning his questionable Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) from the May 2025 elections.
"In order to provide a venue for his explanation and to check the documents, we will issue a show cause order," Garcia explained. "It is appropriate to do this so that we can ask him (Marcoleta) for an explanation since the matter is already public."
The Comelec chairman clarified that the SCO specifically seeks an explanation for why Marcoleta declared zero campaign contributions in his SOCE despite reporting expenditures of P112,857,951.44 during the May 2025 elections. This raised questions about how the senator could spend such a substantial amount when his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) showed a net worth of only P51.9 million.
Anonymous Donations Must Be Declared
When questioned whether anonymous donors should be declared in the SOCE, Garcia responded affirmatively. This position directly contradicts Marcoleta's explanation that he intentionally omitted declaring donations from friends who requested to remain anonymous out of respect for their privacy.
The upcoming decisions by the Comelec en banc are being closely watched as they could set significant precedents for campaign finance regulations and enforcement in Philippine elections. The rulings are expected to clarify the responsibilities of candidates in disclosing all sources of campaign funding, regardless of donor preferences for anonymity.
