Marcos, Duterte face complaint over election donation ban violation

[Updated April 21, 2026, 12:11 p.m.]

MANILA, Philippines — Groups have called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to probe an alleged election offense committed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and two government contractors over alleged prohibited campaign contributions during the 2022 elections.

Election watchdog Kontra Daya, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Workers Electoral Watch, Kilusang Bayan Kontra Kurakot, Kabataan Tayo ang Pag-asa, and the National Union of Students of the Philippines filed a complaint before the Comelec on Friday.

The other respondents in the complaint are Rodulfo Hilot Jr., president of Rudhil Construction Enterprises Inc., and Glenn Escandor, president of ESDEVCO Realty Corp. and Genesis 88 Construction Inc.

READ: Lubiano-Escudero donation cleared by Comelec unit

The petitioners said the respondents made millions in donations to Marcos and Duterte, noting that this is prohibited under Section 95 of the Omnibus Election Code.

The provision states that “[n]o contribution for purposes of partisan political activity shall be made directly or indirectly by any of the following: (c) natural and juridical persons who hold contracts or subcontracts to supply the government or any of its divisions, subdivisions, or instrumentalities with goods or services, or to perform construction or other works.”

The last part of Section 95 also states that “[i]t shall be unlawful for any person to solicit or receive any contribution from any of the persons or entities enumerated herein.”

Citing data from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism’s (PCIJ) report based on the statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) submitted by Marcos, Hilot was listed as one of his biggest donors, contributing P20 million to his campaign.

The PCIJ reported that the yearly value of Rudhil Construction Enterprises’ solo and joint contracts posted on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) website rose from P600 million to P2.6 billion from 2016 to 2022.

The PCIJ also said Hilot’s firm was awarded P2.7 billion in infrastructure projects in 2023. This increased to P3.5 billion the following year.

“For purposes of Section 95(c), the distinct and separate personality of a corporation is not conclusive where the evidence reasonably indicates that the contribution is traceable, in substance, to a prohibited government contractor’s sphere of control,” the petitioners said.

READ: Marcos ready to face ICI over P21-M contributions from contractors

Also citing the PCIJ, the petitioners noted that ESDEVCO Realty Corporation was the sole corporate donor of Duterte, donating P19,923,904. While the DPWH earlier said the corporation has no existing contracts with the agency, the petitioners said that Genesis88, which was owned by Escandor, bagged government contracts in 2022.

The petitioners also said that “the contribution made in ESDEVCO’s name should not be treated as insulated from scrutiny solely due to its separate corporate personality; the decisive inquiry is whether the remittance is traceable, in substance, to a prohibited contractor source within the same sphere of control.”

They called on the Comelec law department or deputized prosecutor assigned by the poll body to conduct a preliminary investigation into the alleged election offense and to file the appropriate information before the proper court.

Kontra Daya said that enforcing the prohibition on contractor contributions will protect the integrity of elections.

“This case highlights both sides of liability—the act of giving and the act of receiving prohibited contributions. Accountability must apply to all parties involved,” the group added.

The Palace earlier said that Marcos is ready to face an investigation over the millions of pesos he received from government contractors.

INQUIRER has reached out to Marcos and Duterte camps but has received no response as of this posting.

As the INQUIRER has reached out to Marcos and Duterte camps, Atty. Paolo Panelo, Duterte’s legal counsel, said that the camp “is not familiar with this.” /mcm /atm /mr