MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will issue next week show cause orders (SCOs) to national and local candidates in the May 2022 elections who reportedly received campaign contributions from government contractors.

Comelec Chair George Garcia said the SCOs will give candidates an opportunity to explain their side.

“By next week, we will be able to issue the show cause orders to the candidates who were given campaign donations by the 27 government contractors,” Garcia said in a Thursday interview.

Earlier, Comelec identified 21 candidates who received contributions from the 27 contractors, including six senatorial bets, five party-list groups, four congressional candidates, three governors, two vice governors, and one councilor.

The poll body also expects the private companies to submit their memoranda or affidavits by Friday, the deadline set to respond to the SCOs. “We expect that by 21 November, they will flock here and we will accept their explanations,” Garcia added.

The 27 government contractors implicated in the 2022 campaign donations are:

Yunakim Construction, AIP Construction, Centerways Construction and Development Inc., 11-16 Construction, Prismodial Construction and Development Corp., Makiling Construction Ventures Corp., Viking Construction and Supplies, DN’D Construction and Development, Octagon Concrete Solutions Inc., Jozen Builders and Construction Supply Corp., Aqualine Construction Corp., R8 Asphalt Plant and Construction Inc., EZJONES Construction Inc., JELM Construction, MWJ Construction, XDR Construction and Supply, Viguz Construction Corp., Everbuilt Construction, GOC Builders, PAFJ Construction and Supply Inc., AL Salazar Construction Inc., EF Chua Construction Inc., JWU Construction and Supply, DG Chico Trading and Construction, Gateway 21-25 Construction Corp., Tagum Builders Contractors Corp., and GP&H Construction Inc.

The SCOs are part of Comelec’s ongoing efforts to ensure transparency in campaign financing and verify compliance with election laws. (PNA)