LP submits SOCE 6 days after deadline

MANILA, Philippines – The Liberal Party filed yesterday its Statement of Contributions and Expenditures for the May 9 polls with the Campaign Finance Office (CFO) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), six days after the June 8 deadline.

But according to CFO, they accepted the SOCE only as a “ministerial duty” because the full commission has not decided whether or not to grant LP’s request for an extension of deadline. 

Based on its SOCE, LP had received contributions amounting to P241,097,372.73 while it spent the same amount during the campaign. 

The party’s cash expenditures amounting to P60,017,372.73 were sourced from party funds, while P181,080,000 cash expenses were shouldered by non-member supporters.

In separate interviews, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista and Commissioners Luie Guia and Rowena Guanzon said they have not deliberated on the LP’s petition.

Bautista claimed they are waiting for the recommendation of the CFO.

Guanzon noted that CFO Commissioner-in-charge Christian Robert Lim has been on leave for two weeks. 

Guia said the Comelec would decide on the issue based on what is prescribed in the law.

In seeking an extension, LP had cited the “voluminous number of receipts that have to be scanned and attached to the document” that they needed to include in filing their SOCE.

Under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166, if the political party, which nominated the winning candidates, fails to file its SOCE, their bets cannot assume office.

LP standard bearer Manuel Roxas II also failed to file his SOCE while his running mate, incoming vice president Leni Robredo, was able to meet the requirement.

Aside from Roxas, others who failed to file their SOCEs are Senate polls topnotcher and Senate President Franklin Drilon (LP) and losing senatorial aspirants former interior secretary Raffy Alunan, Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, former Quezon City congressman Dante Liban, retired policeman Romeo Maganto, Sen. Sergio Osmeña III (independent) and retired policeman Jovito Palparan (independent).

Two other political parties were also not able to submit their SOCEs – Aksyon Demokratiko and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino. – With Perseus Echeminada