House Speaker: Comelec 'overacting'

MANILA, Philippines - House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was overacting when it ordered 20 incumbent lawmakers to vacate their posts for not complying with the proper filing of statements and reports on poll expenses and contributions.

Belmonte said based on the Comelec's list, only three of the 20 lawmakers allegedly did not file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for the May 2013 elections.

"Well, I think OA naman yung Comelec," Belmonte said in a press briefing, a transcript of which was sent to media outfits.

"[C]onsidering most of them (SOCEs) [were] simply not sign[ed] by the guy himself but maybe by his accountant, means to say hindi naman lack of, 'di naman bad faith yun. Talagang misapprehension lang so ganon lang 'yun," Belmonte also said.

The House Speaker said they have since contacted two of the three lawmakers to tell them to submit the needed documents.

Belmonte said these two lawmakers claimed that they did actually filed their SOCEs.

"So kung totoo yung kanilang claim na 'yun, that means to say meron tayong problema doon sa record keeping ng Comelec," Belmonte said.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said at a televised press briefing on Thursday morning that they are only enforcing the law.

According to the list uploaded on the Comelec website, there were actually four lawmakers who did not submit their SOCEs: Manila Fourth District Rep. Thrisha Bonoan-David, Bulacan First District Rep. Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado, Camarines Sur Fifth Distric Rep. Sal Fortuno and Lanao del Sur Second District Rep. Pangalian Balindong.

The SOCEs of the remaining 17 legislators were deemed as not filed.

Three lawmakers did not use the prescribed form in filing their SOCEs while the other 14 did not personally sign the documents.

Among these House members were Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon and Ilocos Sur First District Rep. Rodolfo Biazon.

The Comelec said under the law, these legislators and more than 400 other local officials should leave their offices for now until they have completed their deficiencies.

Read: Comelec asks GMA, Vilma Santos to vacate posts

Belmonte said he is a hundred percent sure that by Monday, all 20 House members have fully complied with the SOCE requirements.

"I'm confident that by Monday, wala nang basis, nakasunod na lahat. Pinatawagan ko nang lahat sa office ko," Belmonte said.

He said they only received this morning a communication from the Comelec that requests for his assistance in ordering the 20 lawmakers to temporarily vacate their posts.