Comelec clears Escudero over P30-M campaign donation

Sen.

- By MAYEN JAYMALIN

Chiz Escudero has been cleared, at least for now, of allegations of accepting a P30-million donation from a government contractor for his 2022 senatorial campaign.In a nine-page resolution, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) terminated the investigation against Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president Lawrence Lubiano for lack of evidence.

“There being no violation of Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code committed by respondent Lubiano, it necessarily follows that the subsequent acceptance of contribution by respondent Escudero for his campaign suffers no legal impediment,” it ruled.

Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay said the poll body adopted the recommendation of its Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) to terminate the investigation.

Since the PFAD recommendation is not adversarial, Bulay, as commissioner-in-charge, did not elevate the matter to the Comelec en banc.

Bulay explained that the