No filers yet on poll expenses

No senatorial candidate in the last elections has filed a statement of expenditures 12 days before the deadline set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Commissioner Resurreccion Borra said the Comelec will strictly enforce election law, particularly the provision requiring candidates to submit a written report of all the contributions they have received and expenses incurred in the last elections.

“This time we will not just wait for the candidates to submit the report,” he said.

“We will be using our visitorial powers to check on the advertisements they placed.”

Borra said winning candidates are barred from assuming their posts until they have filed a statement of contributions and expenditures.

“The law provides that winning candidates cannot enter duty until they filed their statement of contributions and expenditures,” he said.

Borra said the Comelec will check the advertisement contracts of each candidate to determine if he or she exceeded the allowable amount of expenditures.

Violators face imprisonment, disqualification from seeking public office, and an administrative fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000.

Political parties are also required to submit their statements of contributions and expenditures before the Comelec or the candidates they have endorsed would not be able to assume their posts.

Candidates in the May 14 elections have until June 13 to comply with the requirement.     —Mayen Jaymalin