27 senators fined P1,000 each for deficient SOCEs

MANILA, Philippines - At least 27 senatorial candidates were fined a minimum of P1,000 each by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for filing deficient Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).

Winning candidates Juan Edgardo Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito Estrada, Gregorio Honasan, Loren Legarda, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Antonio Trillanes IV and Cynthia Villar were among those fined.

A minute resolution signed by Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and the six commissioners said the P1,000 fine will increase until the candidates complete their SOCE requirements.

Paolo Benigno Aquino IV was slapped with a P4,000 fine or P1,000 per day from June 13 to June 17 when he re-filed his SOCE. Among the losing candidates fined for filing deficient SOCEs were Greco Belgica, Margarita Cojuangco, Rizalito David, Juan Ponce Enrile Jr., Bal Falcone, Richard Gordon, Edward Hagedorn, Marwil Llasos, Ernesto Maceda, Jamby Madrigal, Ramon Montaño, Christian Seeres, Eddie Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros and Juan Miguel Zubiri. The deficiencies in the SOCEs include the lack of copy of receipts issued to contributors and invoices of expenses incurred, failure to sign the documents, missing taxpayer’s identification number and late filing.

Only re-elected senator Alan Peter Cayetano and losing bets Samson Alcantara, Teddy Casiño, JC de los Reyes, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Ricardo Penson have filed complete SOCEs. Brillantes said those fined have until June 29 to complete their SOCEs.

He said the submission of a deficient SOCE is considered not filing the document at all.

Under Republic Act 7166, those who failed to comply with the SOCE requirements could not assume office.

The deficiencies were listed in an eight-page memorandum signed by Comelec Commissioner and Campaign Finance Unit (CFU) steering committee chairman Christian Robert Lim

Brillantes said the CFU would also audit the contents of the SOCEs to determine who among the candidates had overspent during the campaign.