Can gov't contractors donate to poll bets? Here's what Comelec thinks

While the Commission on Elections (Comelec) made it clear that government contractors are prohibited from making donations to election candidates, it may come out differently if these were made in a personal capacity.

- By DHEL NAZARIO

"Sa aking palagay iyan ng magiging mabigat na depensa nung naturang tao (In my opinion, that would make for a strong defense of that person)," Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said in an interview over DZRH on Friday, Aug. 15.

He explained that while the person is the owner of the construction company engaged in a contract with the government, he or she can argue that a donation was made in his or her personal capacity.

Garcia illustrated his point by saying that if a company earned P100 million and distributed the profit among its stockholders, the owner—receiving the largest share, say P20 million—could then donate this personal income to a politician-friend.