Bar candidates without SOCE from assuming posts — watchdog

MANILA, Philippines — Elected candidates who failed to file the required Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) must be barred from assuming their post, an election watchdog said yesterday.

Ona Caritos, Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) executive director urged the Department of  the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the House of Representatives to implement the law.

“They should be strict because this is a legal requirement,” Caritos stressed.

Republic Act 7166 provides that every candidate and treasurer of a political party shall, within 30 days after the day of election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the full, true, and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election.

The law also 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.