Comelec to issue show cause order for Marcoleta over campaign spending declaration

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections will issue a show-cause order for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta next week that will require him to explain possible inconsistencies in his total declared campaign expenditures in the 2025 midterm elections.  

Comelec Chair George Garcia told reporters on Wednesday, November 19, that the order is meant to give the senator a formal venue to clarify questions raised about the amounts he reported in his statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE).

“So that our good senator will have a proper venue to explain,” the Comelec chair said, adding that the poll body wants to review the documents directly rather than rely on claims circulating online.

The Comelec last week said its political and finance affairs department had already started to cross-check the SOCEs of candidates in the 2022 and 2025 polls after its wide-ranging probe on alleged government contractors who made illegal campaign donations. 

On Wednesday, Garcia stressed that show cause orders will also be issued to other candidates flagged for potential issues in their SOCE declarations.

"We need to resolve these issues because the more we delay, there will be doubts [about the Comelec]," Garcia said in mixed English and Filipino. 

Focus on source of funds

Asked why Marcoleta specifically is receiving an order, Garcia said the senator had publicly acknowledged questions about why certain amounts did not appear in his filings. The poll chief said the Comelec wants to understand the source of the funds that were reported as expenditures.

Garcia stressed that under Section 99 of the Omnibus Election Code, candidates must declare all campaign-related spending and donations.

“As far as the Comelec is concerned, there is no exemption... All donations must be declared," Garcia said in Filipino.  

Questions arose after Marcoleta said in a Net 25 interview that he left out campaign contributions from his SOCE because some donors did not want to be identified. His SOCE for the recent midterm elections reflected zero contributions despite reporting more than P112 million in campaign expenses — a figure higher than the P51.96 million net worth he declared in his June 30 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Garcia said the Comelec intends to review possible discrepancies flagged between his SOCE and SALN.

Other probes underway

As of now, however, Garcia said the Comelec is completing its review of explanations from 27 contractors identified as having made illegal donations to candidates during the 2022 elections. Their deadline to respond is this Friday, November 21.

He said the commission aims to release the show-cause orders next week.

"The Comelec wants to show we are fair to everybody," Garcia said.

Candidates who lie or include false information in their SOCEs may face perjury, according to the Comelec.