The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) found that Lawrence Lubiano’s ₱30 million donation to former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s senatorial campaign back in 2022 did not violate Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), it said on Wednesday.

In a resolution, the COMELEC’s Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD) declared there was “no evidence” that Lubiano’s contribution, which was listed in Escudero’s Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), came from Centerways Construction and Development, of which Lubiano is president.

According to the PFAD, Lubiano’s legal personality is separate from the company, and no basis has been established to support the claim that the contribution came from corporate funds, reported RH 29 Boy Gonzales.

“This Office is also mindful on the allegation that respondent Lubiano may have been used indirectly by Centerways to contribute on the campaign coffers of respondent Escudero. However, the evidence on record does not establish such fact,” the resolution read.

“No evidence gathered so far that would establish that he acted merely as an instrumentality or alter ego of the corporation to perpetrate fraud or commit any act prohibited under Sec. 95 (c) of OEC,” it added.

The department recommended the conclusion of the investigation into the matter due to a lack of evidence to prove the complaint against Escudero.

The election body launched the motu proprio inquiry on September 11.

Section 95 of the OEC prohibits government contractors from giving contributions to campaigns.