Comelec probes contractors’ campaign donations linked to 2022 elections

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has launched a motu proprio investigation into the campaign finance records of candidates in the May 2022 polls, zeroing in on possible contributions from private contractors involved in government projects.

Comelec Chair George Garcia said Friday the probe will cover Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) of both national and local candidates, amid allegations linking contractors to questionable flood control projects.

“There is a five-year prescriptive period, so the Comelec still has jurisdiction to review these donations,” Garcia explained.

The Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD), which is spearheading the probe, is initially examining three to four candidates suspected of receiving donations from contractors. 

Garcia cited Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code, which explicitly bans campaign contributions from firms engaged in government contracts.

“So far, what we have found is that some contractors were listed as campaign donors,” Garcia revealed. “But we are still verifying if they had active government projects at the time.”

Garcia stressed that the investigation will first focus on the contractors themselves, not yet on the candidates who may have benefited from the donations. 

The Comelec will also coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to confirm if the firms had contracts with the government.

“Our investigation will not focus on those that supposedly received campaign contributions, but those who gave the donations,” Garcia emphasized.