At least four senatorial candidates in the May 2025 midterm elections allegedly received campaign donations from government contractors, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) revealed Monday.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said a total of 21 contractors were found to have contributed funds to the campaigns of at least seven candidates—four of whom ran for the Senate, while two others were from party-list groups.
However, the Comelec chief declined to name the four senators pending the completion of the investigation.
“Of the 21, six or seven candidates are involved—some national candidates and others from party-lists,” Garcia said.
He explained that the Comelec’s Campaign Finance Office discovered the questionable contributions after cross-referencing candidates’ Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) with records from government agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Government Procurement Policy Board.
Under Philippine election law, contractors with current or pending government projects are prohibited from making campaign contributions, as this could lead to conflicts of interest or undue influence once candidates are elected.
Garcia said the Comelec will conduct a full investigation and identify the erring contractors and candidates after due process.
“Our laws strictly prohibit contractors with ongoing government projects from donating to any candidate. If proven, they could face charges and administrative sanctions,” he said.
He added that confirmed violations may be referred to enforcement offices, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The Comelec is expected to release the official list of investigated donors and recipients in the coming weeks as part of its post-election audit.
