CEBU, Philippines — Reelected Cebu City South District Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa incurred the highest campaign expenses so far during the 2019 midterm elections.
Abellanosa was the top campaign spender among the five city candidates who submitted their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) to the Commission on Elections-Cebu City.
Abellanosa spent P460, 500. Bulk of the amount was utilized for the payment of campaign stickers and posters amounting to P220, 000 and P162, 500, respectively.
He is followed by newly-elected Councilor Antonio Cuenco who spent P411,565.30, which is broken down into P260, 270 (campaign materials), P86, 771 (print advertisement), P80, 000 (social media management), P26, 330 (campaign shirt), and P25, 000 (radio broadcast), among others.
Third is reelected Councilor Joy Augustus Young with P174,793.39, while Councilor-elect Alvin Dizon comes in fourth with P153, 680.
Of the P174, 793.39, Young spent P97, 500 for the compensation of his campaign staff, P71, 119.95 for supplies and P3, 793.44 for travel expenses.
Dizon, on the other hand, spent bulk of the P153, 680 for the printing of campaign materials amounting to P126,700. The remaining amount was utilized for newspaper ads (P12, 824), travel expenses (P6, 181) and mobile phone (P7, 975).
Councilor-elect David Tumulak spent the least for poll campaign with P65, 616.60.
The said amount was used for the printing of campaign materials worth P38, 690, travel expenses for P18, 000 and compensation for campaigners and others for P8, 515.
There are still 49 other local candidates in Cebu City who have yet to submit their SOCE, which contains all the finances and expenditures spent by a candidate in the recent elections.
The bets include Tomas Osmeña, Mary Ann de los Santos, Raul Alcoseba, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Roberto Cabarrubias, Michael Gacasan, Bryan Kirk Repollo, Marie Velle Abella, Rengelle Pelayo, Nestor Archival, Alvin Arcilla, Jerry Guardo, Lea Japson, Sisinio Andales, Marlo Maamo, Raul Del Mar, Edgardo Labella, Michael Rama, Donaldo Hontiveros, Phillip Zafra, Erik Espina, Francis Esparis, and Gerard Carillo.
Others are Renato Osmeña Jr., Eduardo Rama Jr., Prisca Niña Mabatid, Rey Lauron, Ernest Herrera, Noel Wenceslao, Ramil Ayuman, Joel Garganera, Pastor Alcover Jr., Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jocelyn Pesquera and Richard Yap, among others.
Both winning and losing candidates are required to submit their SOCE on or before June 13.
Under the Omnibus Election Code (OEC), candidates who will not be able to comply with the SOCE may face consequences, such as perpetual disqualification or cancellation of accreditation of a political party.
Candidates who won the elections but failed to file their SOCEs cannot assume office on June 30.
South District election officer Marchel Sarno said candidates who were disqualified and those who withdrew their certificates of candidacy for the May 2019 midterm polls are also obliged to file their SOCE.
Candidates can download the SOCE form the Comelec website, www.comelec.gov.ph.
The document in the Comelec website is in the spreadsheet format and the form can be filled up digitally. (FREEMAN)