Fee on Elections Chairman George Erwin Garcia (File picture by Marianne Bermudez/Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — The Political Finance and Affairs Division (PFAD) of the Fee on Elections came upon thus far that 15 contractors donated to candidates within the 2022 nationwide and native elections, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia stated on Friday.
Garcia stated that the quantity could enhance because the PFAD is wanting first into the nationwide positions within the 2022 elections.
The PFAD is the division chargeable for reviewing and validating statements of contribution and bills of election candidates.
“The PFAD has already discovered 15 contractors to have contributed and gave help to candidates within the 2022 elections,” Garcia advised reporters in an interview.
READ: Comelec to gov’t contractors: Political donations are election offense
“Once more, we’re not saying that they’re authorities contractors. Based mostly on the overview, they’re contractors,” stated Garcia.
Garcia famous that the Division of Public Works and Highways can decide if the contractors had contracts with the federal government earlier than and after the submitting of certificates of candidacy and if the sure candidate misplaced or gained the elections.
Garcia beforehand stated that authorities contractors aren’t allowed to donate to candidates working for public workplace as this constitutes election offense.
He stated that is in step with the Part 95(c) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), which supplies that “[n]o contribution for functions of partisan political exercise shall be made instantly or not directly by any of the next: (c) pure and juridical individuals who maintain contracts or subcontracts to provide the federal government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities with items or providers, or to carry out development or different works.”
What occurs if the contractors are confirmed to have entered into contracts with the federal government? Garcia says that underneath the OEC, that is an election offense with one to 6 years of imprisonment.
Garcia additionally identified the legal responsibility for individuals who obtain donations or contributions from authorities contractors.
He cited the final a part of the Part 95 of the OEC which states that “[i]t shall be illegal for any individual to solicit or obtain any contribution from any of the individuals or entities enumerated herein.”
READ: Comelec could probe bets, marketing campaign donations from gov’t contractors
This got here to gentle following the problems regarding “ghost” flood management tasks revealed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself and a number of other senators.
Marcos earlier revealed that solely P100 billion of all the P545-billion price range for flood mitigation tasks from July 2022 to Could 2025 have been awarded to fifteen out of two,409 accredited contractors.
Garcia beforehand stated that the PFAD may examine contractors and candidates who acquired contributions from them following the affirmation of Senate President Francis Escudero that Centerways Development and Growth Inc. donated P30 million to his 2022 senatorial marketing campaign.
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The agency is among the 15 contractors recognized by Marcos to have bagged essentially the most variety of flood management tasks. /gsg
