Cebu City poll body won’t divulge SOCE

CEBU, Philippines —  Unless permitted to do so, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu City will not divulge the statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs) of the city’s candidates last May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections.

Lawyer Edwin Cadungog, Cebu City North District election officer, said that the amount spent by the candidates during the campaign period can be disclosed to the public by the Comelec if the owner of the SOCE would give them a green light.

“Dili namo na mapresentar. Dunay violation niana kay kami gipahimangnoan mi nga dili magpakita kung walay authority sa tag-iya like the certificates of candidacy,” said Cadungog.

Cadungog added that the candidates can also voluntarily present their SOCE to the public.

“Pwede man, pero kana kon dunay pagtugot sa tag-iya sa SOCE or ang tag-iya mismo maoy mopresentar sa SOCE,” he said.

“But, gawas niana, ang atong opisina wala’y katungod sa pag-divulge ana sa bisag kinsa. Gawas na kon na-isyuhan na sila’g Certificate of Compliance, nagpasabot nga naka-comply sila sa mga requirements nga gilagda sa pag-submit sa SOCE,” he added.

As public servants, transparency and accountability are expected of all those who ran during the last national and local elections. The SOCE determines the candidates’ compliance to the expenditure limit.

South District election officer Marilou Paredes explained that whether or not they won the last elections they would have to file a SOCE to determine if they had exceeded their allowable expenditures.

“Aron ma-determine nato kung ni-exceed ba siya sa allowable nga expenditures for certain position nga ilahang gidaganan and then aron naay fairness aron fair play sa tanang kandidato nga kutob ra gyud sila diha mogasto,” said Paredes.

There were 24 candidates in the south district that were expected to submit their SOCE, but based on the Comelec record, only 22 submitted and two failed to file.

The candidates who were able to file are Pie Abella, Jose Abellanosa, Ramonito Alcoseba, Gremar Barete, Roberto Cabarrubias, Crystal Gikom, James Anthony Cuenco, Alan Dinampo, Harry Eran, Francis Esparis, Rey Gealon, Dondon Hontiveros, Jack Jaca, Omar Kintanar, Bea Osmeña, Junjun Osmeña, Samuel Romulo Panilagao, Joy Pesquera, Simeon Romarate, Phillip Zafra, Eduardo Rama Jr., and BG Rodrigo Abellanosa.

In the north district, 36 were expected to submit their SOCE, but only 33 were able to file last June 8.

They are Gian Andre Aznar, Mary Ann de Los Santos, David “Dave” Tumulak, Rachel Marguerite del Mar, Melvin Legaspi, Reynald “Rey” Lauron, Richard Yap, Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., Joel Garganera, Noel Eleuterio Wenceslao, Alvin Dizon, Franklyn Ong, Jerry Guardo, Alvin Arcilla, Michael Rama, Winston Pepito, Sisinio Andales, Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella II, Peter Mancao, Lea Japson, Nestor Archival, Joy Augustus Young, Edwin Jagmoc, Emmanuel Labella, Margarita Osmeña, Maria Buanghug, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Arturo Barrit, Crisologo “Cris” Saavedra Jr., Roland “Roy” Empleo, Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez, Edgar Concha Jr., and  Niña Mabatid. — Decemay P. Padilla, GMR (FREEMAN)