Frasco spends around P1 million on poll campaign

CEBU, Philippines — Congressman-elect Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco of Cebu's Fifth District spent almost a million to finance his election campaign in the May 13 midterm polls.

Frasco was first to file the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) among the candidates in Cebu province.

The SOCE accounts for expenses incurred by the candidates, either personal funds or donated by supporters and their party, through media advertisements, campaign posters, and other campaign collaterals.

Frasco personally filed the documents, including receipts, payrolls and contracts, at the provincial Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Cebu Thursday afternoon.

Based on his SOCE, Frasco shelled out P999,702.96 from his personal money and resources as campaign funds. He did not declare any received contribution.

Each candidate, who belonged to a political party, is allowed to spend P3 for every registered voter covered by the position he/she is running for while those who ran as independent candidates were allowed to spend P5 per voter.

Since Cebu's Fifth District has 366,162 registered voters, congressional candidates there must limit their expenses to P1,098,486.

Bulk of Frasco’s campaign fund went to the compensation of campaigners, clerks, stenographers, and messengers, among others amounting to P264,500.

He listed 31 campaigners on the payroll and each campaigner received a daily rate of P200.

Apart from 31 campaigners, Frasco commissioned people to help him in his candidacy.

He hired five legal counsels and nine paralegal to whom he paid each P15,000 and P5,000, respectively. It cost him P120,000 for the employment of counsels.

He also spent P80,000 for the employment of 80 election watchers. Each poll watcher received P1,000 as honorarium.

Moreover, Frasco paid over P247,000 for newspaper, radio, and television advertisements, including internet and website ad placements.

Attached to Frasco’s SOCE was the contract agreement he had with GMA Network, Inc. wherein he spent over P60,000 as airtime cost for the three-spot telecasts of his campaign political advertisement on May 10, days before the elections.

He also invested in social media campaign. A billing document showed he paid nearly P140,000 for five paid advertisements on Facebook, a social networking site.

Aside from media strategies, Frasco also made use of the traditional means. He utilized P180,000 for the printing and distribution of leaflets, tarpaulins and other printed materials, based on the documents.

Other expenses include P50,000 for the use of sound system during political meetings and rallies; P40,000 for the printing of sample ballots; P12,370 for travelling cost; and P5,790 for mobile phone usage and prepaid load.

Acting Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) Jerome Brillantes said all candidates, whether they won or not, are required to submit their accomplished SOCEs to the election officers of their towns on or before June 12.

He said a candidate’s failure to submit his SOCE would merit a Comelec Law Department- initiated case for disqualification from running for public office again.

Those who overspent for their campaigns will also face certain sanctions, he added.  — KBQ (FREEMAN)