Comelec to name more politicians in contractor donation scandal

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has expressed full readiness to share data with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) that could expose more politicians who received questionable campaign contributions from government contractors.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the poll body is willing to cooperate with the ICI and other investigative agencies to help uncover potential corruption links between public officials and private contractors.

“We will immediately comply because the request comes from government agencies whose mandate is to prosecute corrupt practices,” Garcia said in an interview Wednesday at the Comelec main office in Intramuros, Manila.

Garcia revealed that at least four senators elected in the May 2025 polls were among those who possibly received campaign donations from private contractors, based on their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).

“Of the six senatorial candidates identified, four won while two lost,” he disclosed.

The Comelec chief added that several other candidates also received donations from contractors, including two party-list groups, three congressional aspirants, one national political party, and two gubernatorial candidates.

However, he said the Comelec is withholding the names pending verification from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on whether the identified contractors had active government projects or transactions.

“We can’t disclose who they are yet because we are still cross-checking all the SOCEs and awaiting confirmation from the DPWH,” Garcia explained.

According to preliminary findings, 14 candidates and political groups were listed as recipients of campaign donations from 26 contractors during the 2025 national and local elections—information that could soon aid the ICI’s widening probe into corruption in public works and other sectors.