CEBU, Philippines — The Commission on Election (Comelec)-Central Visayas has stressed that there shall be no extension of deadline in the filing of Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) and all candidates during the recent Barangay and Sanguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), both winning and losing, should make the Nov 29 deadline.
Attorney Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-7 director, said they’ve accepted a few SOCEs already, mostly from winning candidates.
According to Republic Act No. 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act, no elected officials shall sit in office without filing their SOCE first. The SOCE is a thorough and comprehensive report about the campaign contributions and expenditures of the political candidates.
"The losing candidates kung di sila mu file (SOCE) naa pud na silay gitawag na penalty," said Castillano. The penalty ranges from P10,000 for the first offense to being subject to disqualification to run or hold public office for the second offense.
Castillano also reminds candidates who withdrew from the election that they are also required to file their SOCE.
During the BSKE 2023, Comelec-7 received reports of at least 30 candidates who have withdrawn, particularly in Vallahermoso, Negros Oriental.
"Gikan sa councilor, SK….lain-lain man silag rason, mao bitaw nga naay nangayo namo og lista kay musumbong kuno silang Tulfo (Senator Raffy Tulfo) kay alarming kuno nga daghan ni withdraw, but di man usa ra ka barangay, lain-lain man ang barangay," said Castillano.
On the other hand, Castillano asked for understanding as the SOCEs that need to be submitted to their national office need to be saved in compact discs (CD).
"You have to understand na gihimo na sa Comelec, kay hunahuna-a ra gud og kanang papel maoy among ipadala didto, among bodega puno, mao ng CD type, isulod rana namo sa among server," said Castillano.
This system, he assured, is secure and is only accessible to them to check digitally.
As for those areas that do not have access to the internet, Castillano advised them to seek help.
In Mandaue City, SOCE filing has been scheduled for all candidates in the city to facilitate a convenient and orderly submission of the signed notarized SOCE to their office.
Candidates from barangays Alang-Alang, Bakilid, Banilad, Basak, Cabancalan, Cambaro, and Canduman are advised to submit their SOCEs on November 13-15,2023; and candidates from Casili, Casuntingan, Centro, Cubacub, Guizo, Ibabao-Estancia, and Jagobiao will be on Nov 16-18, 2023.
On Nov 20-22, it will be for candidates from Labogon, Looc, Maguikay, Mantuyong, Opao, Pagsabungan, and Paknaan; while Nov 23-25 is for candidates from Subangdaku, Tabok, Tawason, Tingub, Tipolo, and Umapad. All submissions should be made from 8 am to 5 pm.
Meanwhile, Castillano said that Comelec is lobbying to amend the authorized expenses of candidates and parties. He said that the authorized expenses of the candidates, which is at P3-P5 for every voter, is no longer practical.
"Because we have to realize na dili na na sya practical, unsa nalang gud ng singko rong panahona sa actual nila nga gasto so we have a proposal sa Congress na hopefully ma-actionan nila by 2025," said Castillano.
Last August, Congress has approved on third and final reading House Bill 8370 that amends the per-vote expenditure of P10 to P50 per voter for presidential election; P10 to P40 for vice presidential election; and P3 to P5 to P30 per voter for senatorial, district representative, gubernatorial, vice gubernatorial, board member, mayoral, vice mayoral, councilor, and party-list representative candidates.
Castillano explained that should the amount be more realistic, the candidates will also declare the real amount in their SOCE.
Currently, Castillano admitted that they are also having a hard time believing the declared SOCE of the candidates adding that these candidates may have only been complying with what is written under the law. — (FREEMAN)