Poll Watchdog Demands Election Offense Cases Over Campaign Donations
Poll watchdog Kontra Daya has formally urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to file election offense cases against campaign donors of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. The complaint centers on alleged violations during the May 2022 national and local elections, highlighting concerns over prohibited contributions from government contractors.
Complaint Targets Donors and Candidates Alike
In its detailed complaint, groups led by Kontra Daya have called for a preliminary investigation into Rodolfo D. Hilot Jr., president of Rudhil Construction Enterprises Inc., and Glenn Y. Escandor, president of Esdevco Realty Corp. and Genesis 88 Construction Inc. The watchdog alleges these individuals breached the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) by funding electoral campaigns.
"The law is unequivocal: government contractors are barred from funding electoral campaigns to prevent conflicts of interest and undue influence in governance," Kontra Daya emphasized in a statement. Beyond the donors, the complaint also implicates President Marcos and Vice President Duterte for allegedly receiving these prohibited campaign donations.
Kontra Daya stressed that it is illegal for candidates to accept contributions from such sources. "This case underscores both sides of liability—the act of giving and the act of receiving prohibited contributions. Accountability must apply to all parties involved," the group asserted.
Legal Basis and Specific Allegations
Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code explicitly prohibits contributions for partisan political activities from natural and juridical persons holding government contracts or subcontracts for goods, services, construction, or other works. Kontra Daya cited this provision as the foundation of their complaint.
According to data from the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) filed by Marcos, Rodolfo D. Hilot Jr. donated P20 million to the president's campaign during the 2022 elections. Similarly, based on Duterte's Soce, Glenn Y. Escandor contributed a total of P19.9 million to the vice president's campaign.
Call for Impartial Investigation
Kontra Daya has called on the Comelec to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into these matters. "We urge the Comelec to execute a full and unbiased investigation, determine liability under Section 95(c), and pursue appropriate action for election offenses," the watchdog stated. The group's move aims to enforce electoral laws and ensure transparency in political financing, addressing potential conflicts of interest that could undermine governance integrity.
