Osmeña fails to file statement of campaign contributions

MANILA, Philippines - Comebacking Sen. Sergio Osmeña III and two losing presidential bets are among the 18 national candidates who failed to file their statement of contributions and expenditures with the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Based on records at Comelec’s Law Department, Osmeña and presidential candidates John Carlos delos Reyes of Ang Kapatiran Party and Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas did not meet the June 24 deadline for the filing of the statements.

Republic Act 7166, the Synchronized National and Local Elections law, states that “no person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures required.”

But according to a Comelec official, this does not mean that Osmeña could not assume his seat at the Senate.

The official said the Senate has its own rules on whether or not a senator could function even without fulfilling such requirement.

Under the Fair Election Act, a candidate, whether winning or losing, faces a fine of P1,000 to P30,000 for failing to file the statement for the first time.  

For the second offense, a fine of P2,000 to P60,000 is also imposed plus lifetime disqualification from public office.

The others who failed to meet the requirement are losing vice presidential bet Jay Sonza and losing senatorial candidates Neric Acosta of Liberal Party; Rodolfo Plaza of Nationalist People’s Coalition; Alex Tinsay, Saffrulllah Alonto, Kata Inocencio, Adz Nikabulin, Ramoncito Ocampo, all of Bangon Pilipinas; Alma Lood and Hector Villanueva of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan; Adrian Sison of Ang Kapatiran; Liza Maza of Nacionalista Party and Shariff Alloni, Henry Carreon and Jovito Palparan.