The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has identified nine more contractors who may have donated to candidates in the 2022 elections, Comelec chairman George Garcia said yesterday.
Earlier, Garcia confirmed that contractors contributed to the campaigns of national candidates in the 2022 elections, with at least three linked to firms that secured major flood control projects.
He said the Comelec is vetting the list with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to determine which contractors had active contracts with the government during the elections.
Garcia said in an interview yesterday on Super Radyo dzBB that seven of the contractors contributed to the election campaigns of senators and congressmen, while 15 of them donated to political parties and party-lists.
“We found that one contractor donated to two to three candidates, while one candidate benefited from three construction companies,” he said.
Garcia emphasized that government contractors are prohibited from donating to candidates, citing Section 95 (c) of the Omnibus Election Code.
Those found guilty may face penalties, including imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
He said both the contractor and the receiver of the donations may face one to six years of imprisonment if found guilty.
The candidate or government official could also face perpetual disqualification to hold public office, Garcia added.
The poll chief said 44,000 candidates submitted their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) in the 2022 polls, while 42,000 complied with the requirement for the 2025 elections.
