69 poll bets face raps for overspending in 2010, 2013

MANILA, Philippines - Sixty-nine candidates in the 2010 and 2013 elections, including Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, are facing charges for campaign overspending, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said 25 of the candidates would face preliminary investigation by the Comelec’s law department, where the Campaign Finance Unit (CFU) has filed the cases against them.

“Out of the 25, I think, 14 were for the 2010 elections while 11 were for 2013. This has nothing to do with disqualification. This is criminal, based on the SOCE (Statement of Contributions and Expenditures) that they submitted to us,” Brillantes said.

Ejercito’s case involves his congressional run for the lone district of San Juan City in 2010. The case was docketed as EO Case 14-300.

As a procedure, the law department will recommend the filing of a case with a regional trial court once it has established probable cause.

The Comelec created the CFU to identify those who violated the limits in campaign spending.

The nephew of former President Fidel Ramos, Ranjit Ramos Shahani, who ran for board member of Pangasinan, is also among those facing charges for campaign overspending.

The others are mayoral candidates Darell Dela Flor (Belison, Antique); Ernesto Pablo Jr. (Rizal, Occidental Mindoro); Rudy Alvarez (Palanas, Masbate); Juditas Trinidad (Iguig, Cagayan); Jose Norella Jr. (Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro); Arsenio Agustin (Marcos, Ilocos Norte) and Archimedes Sales (Pozorrubio, Pangasinan).

Also in the list are congressional candidates Ralph Lantion (Nueva Vizcaya); Narzal Mallares (Antique); Justinian Licnachan (Ifugao); Maria Blanca Lokin (2nd district, Pangasinan); Wilfredo Estorninos (2nd district, Samar); Orlando Fua (Siquijor) and Grace Sumalpong (Siquijor).

Also charged were gubernatorial candidates Herminia Ramiro (Misamis Occidental); Carlos Valdez Jr. (Sultan Kudarat); Manuel Montarde (Catanduanes); Harry Meso (Dinagat Islands) and Carlos Diasnes (Batanes); Sangguniang Bayan candidates Ephraim Gianan (Virac, Catanduanes) Quirino Esguerra Jr. (2nd district, Zamboanga Sibugay); and vice mayoral candidates Ferdinand Trinidad (Iguig, Cagayan), and Cesar Tria (Magsaysay, Occidental Mindanao).

Brillantes said they would pursue the cases to show that the Comelec is resolved to implement campaign rules and regulations.

Section 100 of the Omnibus Election Code sets a ceiling on campaign spending.

An election offense is punishable with imprisonment of up to six years, disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right to suffrage.

In an interview in Cagayan de Oro for the induction of members of the national board of the Junior Chamber International on Friday, Ejercito downplayed the case, saying he did not overspend.

He said it was “impossible” for him to overspend as he only had one or two commercials a day.  “Honest and I declared correctly,” he said.

Singled out

Ejercito lamented that only opposition members are being singled out.

“We are for the truth and we want to know the truth why there are no cases against the administration officials,” he said. – With Gerry Lee Gorit