Last day for SOCE filing busiest day for Comelec

CEBU, Philippines - Today is the last day for candidates in the May 9 polls to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) officials expect submissions to arrive at the last minute.

Megumi Tapia, the officer in charge of receiving the documents, said the last day of filing has always been the busiest day for the Comelec. For smooth processing, he called on candidates to make sure they are submitting four copies of their SOCE with official receipts.

Candidates used to submit just three copies but the fourth one is a safety net in case documents get lost.

"This is to protect the candidates kay we have experienced before nga sa among record, naka-submit ang candidate but nawala sa head office. Maong maghipos mi og among copy," he said.

Incoming North District election officer Marchel Sarno said winning candidates who fail to file their SOCE cannot assume office.

"June 8 ang deadline so, hopefully, mo-file mo within the day. Winning or losing, mo-file gyod sila og SOCE kay naay penalty. As to the winning, dili sila kalingkod og dili ka file and ang losing, naay penalty but kon ikaduha na nga wala ka file, dili na makadagan," he said.

Candidates for city mayors and vice mayors will have to pay P20,000 for the first offense and P40,000 for the second offense. Candidates for city councilors will pay P15,000 for the first offense and P30,000 for the second offense.

For consecutive offenses, candidates will face perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

Cebu City

In Cebu City, only 11 of the more than 40 candidates have filed their SOCEs as of yesterday.

They are Congressman Rodrigo Abellanosa, Councilors-elect Mary Ann De Los Santos, Da-vid Tumulak, James Anthony Cuenco, Jose Daluz III, and Pastor "Jun" Alcover, Jr., Reynato Osmeña, and four other independent candidates.

Sarno said those candidates who have political parties were allowed to spend P3 per registered voter while those independent candidates were allowed to spend P5 per registered voter.

For the Cebu City Mayor, mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña and outgoing mayor Michael Rama were allowed to spend P1,890,009 since the city has 630,003 registered voters.

The two are yet to submit their SOCEs.

Congressmen and city councilors with political parties in the South District were allowed to spend P1.017 million for 339,243 registered voters while those who ran in the North District were allowed to spend P872,280 for 290,760 registered voters.

Of the 11 candidates who submitted their SOCEs, Abellanosa spent the biggest at P511,580 while independent candidate Edgardo Eman spent the lowest at P225 using personal funds.

In his SOCE, Abellanosa said he has not received contributions from other sources, relatives, and his political party, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan. He said his campaign expenses were taken from his personal funds and resources.

He spent P453,480 for stationery, printing, and distribution of printed materials relative to his candidacy like tarpaulins, posters, and another P58,100 to pay for watchers.

Daluz who was elected councilor in the North District disclosed spending P334,302.11 and receiving P171,952 cash and donations in kind from contributors.

His contributors included Cebu City Local School Board head Ronald Diola (P50,000 cash), Petronilo Flores (P20,000 cash), Ferdinand Pepito (P20,000 cash), Marjoere San Ng (P50,000 cash), John Calvin Tao (P20,000 cash), and Philippine Spring Water Resources, Inc. (P11,952 worth of 350 ML bottled water).

Daluz said he spent P162,350.11 from his personal pocket.

Alcover who was elected councilor in the North District spent P269,444.37 and said he did not accept contributions.

De Los Santos, reelected as North District councilor, spent P158,143.61 from personal funds. She also did not accept contributions.

Tumulak, reelected and number one councilor, spent P114,181 from personal resources. He did not accept contributions.

Renato Osmeña, Jr. spent P93,761 personal funds and did not accept donations. He failed to make it to the council.

Cuenco who was reelected as city councilor spent P47,613.63 from personal funds and did not accept contributions.

Independent councilorial bet Lorenzo Basamot spent P70,554.67 for his campaign and did not accept contributions.

Federico Peredo, independent councilorial bet from the South district reported P3,000 contributions and he spent P9,000.

Lastly, independent congressman bet Juan Arenasa only spent P800 from personal expenses.

Other LGUs

In Mandaue City, only mayoralty candidate Emmarie Lolypop Ouano-Dizon and vice mayoralty candidate Beethoven Andaya filed last Monday. Both ran under One Cebu Party.

Ouano-Dizon spent P555, 182.02 while Andaya spent P67, 778.

In Lapu-Lapu City, 10 out of 74 candidates filed their SOCEs yesterday. They were councilorial bets Rogelio Gala, John Norman Codilla and Fredie Inot of the United Nationalist Alliance under Team Angel; independent candidate Francisco Dimataga and PDP-Laban's Francisco Gilig, Jr. (Team Kusgano); as well as Melvin Waslo, Thelma Cantoneros, Ma. Consuelo Verga, and Alfredo Verame, all members of National People's Coalition or Team Pelaez. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo, Christell M. Tudtud and Michael Vencynth H. Braga (FREEMAN)