Bets who did not file expenses can't run

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is determined to eliminate from next year’s polls all candidates in the 2007 and 2010 elections who failed to file their statements of election contributions and expenses (SECE) for the two elections.

“Our Law Department is coming up with a list of non-compliant candidates from 2007 to 2010 or those who did not file their SECE. When we establish that they are recidivists, our penalty will take effect in 2013,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said over radio station dzRH.

Jimenez said this effort would include the winning and losing candidates in the 2007 and 2010 elections.

“Some were claiming they did not spend anything because it was the party that spent for them. They should have filed SECE and stated there ‘zero expenditure.’ What is important is they filed,” he said.

Jimenez said there were 74,000 certificates of candidacy filed for the 2007 and 2010 polls.

“According to the (Comelec’s) Law Department, they may be able to come up with the list in two months. They are reviewing the records very thoroughly,” he added.

Under Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections, “every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within thirty (30) days after the day of the election, (file the SECE).”

Violators also face fines ranging from P1,000 to P30,000. The law was designed to level the playing field among candidates.

Last month, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes forged a memorandum of agreement with Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to implement the law that “no person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed” the SECE.

Under the MOA, the Department of the Interior and Local Government shall require the winning candidates in local polls to secure a certification from Comelec before they can be sworn into office.