Comelec-8 warns 2016 bets: Spend within law limitation

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – About 50 candidates in Eastern Visayas in the past elections were issued notices of explanation regarding alleged overspending and, this time, the Comelec-Region 8 office had warned prospective bets for 2016 to spend campaign money only within the limits of the law.

Comelec-8 official Felicismo Embalsado said candidates must follow the law to avoid possible disqualification, like what happened to Laguna Governor ER Ejercito who was ousted from his elected post due to campaign overspending.

Embalsado said first offenders will be sanctioned with fine, while the second offender will be meted with disqualification.

“The important message is that they (candidates) should not take the law for granted, and follow this instead. There are lessons already, when the Supreme Court uphold the disqualification case against Ejercito,” he told The Freeman.

The Comelec official, however, was optimistic that candidates for the 2016 elections will be aware of the law’s allowable amount to spend in their campaign.

Embalsado cited the law’s limitation of candidate’s expenses, as follows:  No candidate shall spend for his election campaign an aggregate amount exceeding P1.50 for every voter currently registered in the constituency where he filed his candidacy.

“This amount shall include those incurred or caused to be incurred by the candidate, whether in cash or in kind, including the use, rental or hire of land, water or aircraft, equipment, facilities, apparatus and paraphernalia used in the campaign.”

It stated further: “Provided that where the land, water or aircraft, equipment, facilities, apparatus and paraphernalia used is owned by the candidate, his contributor or supporter, the Commission is hereby empowered to assess the amount commensurate with the expenses for the use thereof, based on the prevailing rates in the locality and shall be included in the total expenses incurred by the candidate.”

Meanwhile, Embalsado disclosed the Comelec-8 has expected a total of 2.6 million registered voters in 2016, but then records showed that about 130,000 of them still have no biometrics to this day.