Every institution, private or public, abides by specific regulations because clear guidelines make sure that operations run smoothly and fairly. But in public office, there are those who are daring enough to find loopholes, helping them escape the grasp of justice.
During the 2022 elections, then-Senatorial Candidate Chiz Escudero received a P30 million donation from Lawrence Lubiano, a contractor and president of the construction firm Centerways Construction and Development. While a complaint was filed, the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) dismissed it because Lubiano and his firm are considered ‘separate entities.’ Escudero was eventually elected senator.
Regardless of whether the funds came from his own pockets or not, Lubiano is still associated with a construction firm—a clear conflict of interest. Ideally, elections are earned, but matters like this show that they might just as well be a bidding game. Loaded backers fund their best bets, who in turn, will offer contracts or deals—so much for public service. The case has since been sent to the Supreme Court for judicial review. We could only hope that this matter will be undertaken through the right process. However, it shouldn't end here because there's a noticeable pattern highlighting COMELEC's lack of teeth and disappointing oversight.
Senator Rodante Marcoleta faced a similar predicament after admitting to receiving P75 million campaign donations during the 2025 mid-term elections without declaring the details in his Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). He argued that the donors wanted to remain anonymous and that the funds were sent to him a month prior to the campaigns, making them personal—another legal loophole.
Luckily for him, COMELEC dismissed the investigation on the matter because while Section 109 of the Omnibus Election Code states that a candidate must file the exact amount and donors of their SOCE, violating this provision is no longer considered an election offense because a law in congress (RA 7166) ruled that violations will only lead to administrative fines, ranging from P1,000 to P30,000. The commission, however, has conducted a preliminary investigation on those donors—but Marcoleta, the person who benefitted most, only received a slap on the wrist.
Weak bureaucracies, in general, tend to benefit offenders, putting public interest at stake. COMELEC, as an election commission, shouldn't let the likes of Escudero and Marcoleta walk all over them—unless they aren't concerned about standing up against legal loopholes. If policies and provisions compromise the role of state agencies, the public doesn’t and shouldn't expect bureaus and lawmakers to simply sit back and let these issues pass under their noses.
