Filing of barangay polls SOCE ends

CEBU, Philippines - The deadline for submission of Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of the barangay elections candidates has ended yesterday instead of December 15.

Cebu provincial election supervisor, Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano, said that the deadline was extended for one day since the original deadline fell on Sunday, a non-working day.

“Gamay nalang ang wala ka-comply ug kasagaran ang kato nalang wala kadaog”, said Castillano.

He however said that all candidates, winner or loser, should follow the rules in filing their SOCEs to refrain from setbacks like the order to temporarily vacate post of winning officials.

“Naa sa resolution nga dili ka-enter sa office until they have complied their SOCE”, Castillano said.

The Commission on Elections had earlier moved the November 28 deadline in the filing of COSEs in typhoon-ravaged areas in the Visayas until December 15.

“Daghan ang areas nga walay kuryente, walay maka-reproduce sa forms, receipts nabasa, or nag-reconstruct (documents) sila”, said Castillano.

He said that Comelec is now strictly implementing the law since some candidates are not truthful in filing their SOCE.

Castillano said they are also working on the proposal to possibly amend the law regarding the filing of SOCE and limitation of expenses.

“We want it to be realistic para pod atong mga candidate will truthfully file their SOCE”, he said.

Meanwhile, Castillano said that Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert S. Lim has instructed that elected officials who were ordered to vacate posts for failure to submit SOCE will have until December 27 to comply with their requirements.

“Upon sa instruction ni Commissioner Lim, nga they have until December 27 to file it personally or to authorize representative ngadto sa office ni Commissioner Lim, ug ila gyod nang ipa-receive didto para mawala na ang temporary vacate (sa post)” said Castillano.

The rule states that SOCE must be personally filed or could be filed by another person provided it is personally signed by the candidate who is asked by law.

“Usually after sa election, mo-bakasyon sila (candidates) ug ang SOCE malimtan”, he said. (FREEMAN)