POSSIBLE jail time looms for 43 contractors and several candidates after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) flagged their donations in the 2022 campaign as potential violations of election law.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said show-cause orders would be issued Monday, giving the firms five days to explain why they should not be held liable.

Of the 43 contractors, nine were newly flagged on top of the 34 firms earlier reported by the Comelec to the House of Representatives. Records from the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures show that the donations were extended to seven national candidates and 15 political parties and party-list groups.

“It appears that one construction firm gave to two to three candidates, or that one candidate benefited from three construction companies,” Garcia told a radio program in Filipino, as quoted by Philstar.

The poll body will next issue similar orders to the candidates and parties that received the funds. Garcia noted that aside from possible criminal charges, public officials who accepted prohibited donations while in government service could also face administrative sanctions.

Under election laws, contractors involved in government projects are barred from contributing to political campaigns. Both donors and recipients may face imprisonment of one to six years if found guilty.(MyTVCebu)

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• #Commission on Elections
• #Comelec
• #2022 elections Philippines
• #illegal campaign donations
• #election law violations
• #George Garcia
• #show-cause orders
• #political campaign financing
• #contractors in government projects
• #prohibited donations
• #campaign contribut