The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ruled that the P30-million donation received by Sen. Francis Escudero during the 2022 elections did not breach the Omnibus Election Code. In a recently issued nine-page resolution, the poll body concluded that neither Escudero nor donor Lawrence Lubiano, who heads Centerways Construction and Development Inc., committed any prohibited act under campaign finance rules.
The Law Doesn't Lie
The Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) found no evidence that Lubiano used corporate funds when he extended financial support to Escudero. According to the resolution, allegations that the money originated from Centerways were unsubstantiated, and there were no documents or witnesses proving that the company’s finances were involved in the contribution.
“There being no violation of Section 95 (c) of the 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,” the PFAD stated.
The resolution further emphasized that Lawrence Lubiano acted in his personal capacity when he donated to Escudero’s campaign.
“When respondent Lubiano contributed to the campaign of respondent Escudero, the former merely exercised a right that is personal to him. There is no evidence establishing that the funds used in the contribution originated from Centerways, or that its corporate money crept into the campaign funds of respondent Escudero through the contribution made by respondent Lubiano,” the body explained.
Unsupported By Proof
In assessing the claims raised against the two, Comelec stressed that accusations unsupported by proof cannot be used to dismiss the distinct legal personalities of Lawrence Lubiano and the company he leads.
“The mere fact that respondent Lubiano serves as Centerways’ president does not justify disregarding their separate juridical personality in the absence of clear evidence of fraud, bad faith, or any act aimed at evading legal obligations,” the resolution noted.
Escudero earlier acknowledged receiving the donation and confirmed that it was properly declared in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
The ruling highlights the continuing importance of transparency and documentation in campaign finance. For ordinary Filipinos, the decision reinforces how critical it is for election institutions to uphold due process and ensure that contributions—whether large or small—follow clear rules. A credible campaign finance system ultimately supports public trust in elections, which directly shapes the nation’s political stability and governance.
