Comelec flags 31 contractor-donors of some 2022 poll bets

Metro Manila, Philippines - Thirty one contractors donated to the campaign kitty of 31 candidates in the 2022 general poll, possibly violating the Omnibus Election Code, the Commission Elections (Comelec) said on Monday, Sept. 1.

In a House budget hearing, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the body reviewed documents at the height of infrastructure project anomalies. He said they prioritized the 2022 polls over the 2025 because of the five-year prescriptive period.

Garcia withheld names pending verification.

“We have to verify with DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) kung itong 31 na ito ay may existing contract at the time of the filing of candidacy ng mga naturang kandidato kasi po may posibilidad na sila ay contractors pero wala naman po silang kontrata sa pamahalaan. So ligtas po sila doon,” he explained.

[Translation: We have to verify with DPWH if these 31 contractors have an existing contract at the time of the aspirants’ filing of candidacy because there is a possibility that they are contractors but they do not have government contracts. They are safe if that is the case.]

“Pero titingnan po natin kung sila ba ay may kontrata during the filing of the candidacy of the said candidates or after the candidacy or after the election para po makita natin, malaman natin kung nagamit ‘yung position at ‘yung pagkapanalo para mabigyan ng kontrata,” Garcia further said.

[Translation: We have to check whether they had contracts during the filing of candidacy or after the election to know if the position has been used to bag contracts.]

Garcia said erring people would be held accountable under the Omnibus Election Code.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong earlier said some lawmakers receive kickbacks from infrastructure projects. Senator Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, said at least 67 congressmen act as contractors of infrastructure projects and received a cut.