The Supreme Court En Banc dismissed a petition challenging the Commission on Elections Political Finance and Affairs Department’s decision to terminate its investigation into the ₱30-million contribution to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s 2022 campaign.
The High Court dismissed the petition filed by teacher John Barry Tayam for being the wrong legal remedy. The procedural dismissal did not resolve whether the contribution violated election laws or independently affirm the findings reached by the Comelec department.
The dispute involved a contribution from businessman Lawrence Lubiano, president and 99-percent owner of Centerways Construction and Development Inc., a company that had secured government infrastructure contracts.
Tayam questioned the contribution under Section 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits individuals or entities holding government contracts from directly or indirectly making campaign donations.
Escudero’s legal counsel, Atty. Ramon Esguerra, maintained that the contribution was lawful because Lubiano gave the money in his personal capacity. The senator’s camp said the funds came from Lubiano’s private accounts and not from the corporate assets of Centerways.
Escudero also declared the ₱30 million in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures after the 2022 elections.
The Comelec PFAD later found no evidence supporting the filing of an election offense complaint against Escudero and Lubiano. It cited the separate juridical personalities of Lubiano and Centerways and found no proof that the money came from the company.
