MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said campaign contributors of Senators Francis Escudero and Rodante Marcoleta have been summoned to respond to complaints filed in connection with the May 2025 elections.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the individuals were issued subpoenas as part of a preliminary investigation being conducted by the poll body’s law department.

Summoned were Lawrence Lubiano, identified as Escudero’s campaign contributor, and former party-list Rep. Michael Defensor, Joseph Varias Espiritu, and Aristotle Baluyut Viray, who were named as contributors of Marcoleta.

“The status of the investigation, are there any summons? What I know is that subpoenas have been issued by our law department,” Garcia said in an interview at a Comelec warehouse.

He said the case is now subject to a formal preliminary investigation.

“What will be done here is what is called a preliminary investigation…So, again, the so-called preliminary investigation will be rolled out,” he added.

Garcia noted that the current cases stem from formal complaints filed by private individuals, unlike a previous motu proprio inquiry conducted by Comelec which did not result in strong evidence against the lawmakers.

“What the Comelec did before, it was a self-proclaimed investigation. It was based only on available documents, available evidence, no complainant. There was no evidence gathered by our office,” he said.

“But, this time complaints were filed and therefore there were other documents involved, there were documents introduced and therefore we need to have those documents answered by the accused. Previously, those documents did not exist,” he added.

Garcia explained that possible violations of Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) rules do not automatically lead to disqualification, but may constitute election offenses depending on the findings.

“What is called a violation of the SOCE, is not a ground for disqualification. Later on, maybe if you fail to file the SOCE twice, it will be a perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” he said.

Earlier reports said lawyer Jesus Falcis filed a complaint against Escudero, while the Comelec Law Department was directed to conduct a preliminary investigation into alleged failures to submit reports of contributions one month after the national elections.