20 national bets have filed SOCE – Comelec

MANILA, Philippines – Twenty national candidates, including re-elected Sen. Ralph Recto and former senator Panfilo Lacson, have filed their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), records of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) showed yesterday.                  

The others who were able to submit their SOCEs before today’s deadline include losing senatorial aspirants Alma Moreno and Allan Montano and 16 party-list organizations.

Based on his SOCE, Lacson received P90,474,233.76 in contributions and had P87,935,535.91 in total expense.

Recto, on the other hand, spent more than what he received, as his SOCE showed contributions of P111.65 million and expenses of P131.86 million. 

As of 2 p.m. yesterday, the party-list groups that submitted their SOCEs are Abang Lingkod, AGAP, All Fish, 1-Abilidad, Ang Kabuhayan, ABS, Angkla, AnakPawis, Kalinga, Senior Citizens, Marino, Anac-IP, Butil, 1-Sagip, MTM Phils and Abono.

Mazna Lutchavez-Vergara of the Comelec’s campaign finance office (CFO) said they expect the bulk of filers today, the deadline for filing SOCE. 

“There will be no extension. In prior elections, we had so many extensions. But this time, we really have to show to them that we are strict with the deadline so they will do their obligations to file their SOCEs,” Vergara said.

The SOCEs will be screened by the CFO to determine who among the candidates and parties have overspent during the campaign.

Penalties

Vergara noted that under Comelec Resolution 9991, the first offense carries a fine of P10,000 to P30,000 depending on the position a candidate is seeking.

She added that a second-time offender could face perpetual disqualification from holding any appointive or elective public office.

The lawyer also cautioned winning candidates in the recent polls that they will not be able to assume office if they are found to have not filed their SOCE twice, based on the Comelec’s memorandum of agreement with the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“We won’t be issuing formal compliance (certificate) so they cannot assume office, both local and national, even if they won,” Vergara said.

She added that contributions that have not been spent by the candidates or their parties should be returned to the donors, or reported to the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which would consider it as income and impose the corresponding tax.