Tomas spent P1.5M in polls

CEBU, Philippines - Outgoing congressman Tomas Osmeña is the biggest spender among Cebu City candidates in last May’s election.

Osmeña submitted his Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SECE) yesterday and declared a total expenditure of P1.5 million.

Ranking second is Osmena’s runningmate, outgoing vice mayor Joy Young, whose total expenditure reached P1.3million.

Young’s opponent, vice mayor-elect and outgoing councilor Edgar Labella only spent P216k while reelected Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama declared that he spent P1.2million.

Osmeña lost to Rama while Young was defeated by Labella.

As of 5 yesterday, the deadline of the submission of SECE, seven out of 47 official Cebu City candidates have yet to submit their statements.

These include Team Rama candidates for councilor Raddy Diola and Jack Jakosalem while the rest are independent candidates.

Defeated Cebu City South District candidate, lawyer Aristotle Batuhan declared a total expenditure of  P849,000.

Reelected councilor Margarita Osmena spent a total of  P555,000 while  Gabby Leyson, also of BOPK, listed a total expenditure of P337k.

BOPK candidate who failed in her bid for a council seat, Zenaida Amores, spent P50k.

Eight candidates declared a total expenditure of below P50,000 and these include councilor-elect Mary Ann delos Santos (P35,000), Lotlot Ignacio Soon (P34,000), Gerry Guardo (P32,000), councilor-elect Hans Abella (P30,000), Pastor “Jun” Alcover II (P25,000), Althea Lim (P21,000), while Eddie Jagmoc and Yody Sanchez both said they spent P20,000.

Team Rama’s Tisha “Inday Tikay” Ylaya is the only candidate who spent less than P10,000. — (FREEMAN)