00:00The Supreme Court accepts a petition seeking to review a ruling by the Commission on Elections
00:05that clears Senator Cheese Escudero for a 30 million peso campaign donation received from
00:10government contractor Lawrence Lubiano. Lubiano is the owner of Centerways Construction, one of
00:15the country's top flood control contractors. The High Court grants the petition filed by
00:20private citizen John Barry Tayam to review the poll body's decision. Comalex Political Finance
00:25and Affairs Department ruled in November 2025, Escudero did not violate election laws in accepting
00:31the donation. It also found that Lubiano did not breach any rules by contributing to the Escudero
00:36campaign. A Rappler investigation showed that Lubiano was Escudero's biggest campaign donor.
00:41Following the report, Comalex launched a motu proprio investigation. The controversy, among other factors,
00:47eventually led to Escudero's ouster as Senate President. Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto
00:52Bernardo in a Senate hearing, alleged Escudero received kickbacks from flood control projects.
00:58Escudero denies the allegations.
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