Angara, Chiz spent over P100-M each for May polls

MANILA, Philippines - So how much does it cost to be a senator?

Senator Francis Escudero and Senator-elect Sonny Angara declared that they spent over P100 million each to win their senatorial bids last May.

Judee Aguilar, a member of Escudero's staff, said the senator's expenditures reached P100,723.309.10 while the total contributions was recorded at P101,470,000.

Escudero placed fourth in the senatorial race with 17.5 million votes. The senator was filed his statement of expenditures and contributions at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Meanwhile, Angara bared that he spent over P120 million for his senatorial bid last May. He said he received around P113 million in campaign contributions.

He placed sixth in the last May senatorial elections with 16 million votes.

A first-time senator, Angara revealed that he was able to submit his statement on election contribution and expenditures within the three-hour deadline extended by the Comelec.

Floods and heavy traffic caused by rains and thunderstorms in parts of Metro Manila prevented some of the candidates’ staff to bring the expenses’ reports during officer hours at the poll headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.

“I was able to file expenses at the Comelec last night, was able to beat the three-hour extension given by Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes,” Angara said in an interview on Friday.

Under Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 or the Automated Election Law, candidates and treasurers of political parties are mandated to file their statement of expenditures and contributions 30 days after an election.

“No person elected to any public offices shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein require," the law read.

The average monthly salary of a senator is pegged at P35,000. But latest Commission on Audit (COA) reports revealed that a senator spends between P20 million and P30 million annually, including personnel services, capital outlay, maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), among others.

The amount does not include emoluments of chairmanships and memberships of the 37 regular committees and 39 oversight committees.