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Comelec's campaign finance chief quits after SOCE decision

June 20, 2016 | 8:20pm

MANILA, Philippines – Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Christian Robert Lim on Monday tendered his irrevocable resignation as the head of the Campaign Finance Office (CFO) after the poll body’s en banc extended the deadline for the filing of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

In his resignation letter, Lim lamented the decision of the Comelec en banc to accept the Liberal Party’s (LP) SOCE six days after the deadline and the move to extend the filing until June 30.

“In the light of the decision of the majority of the Commission En Banc to grant the request for extension filed by Atty. Maria Bernadette Sardillo on behalf of the Liberal Party and its Presidential Candidate Manuel A. Roxas II during the Special En Banc meeting held on 16 June 2016, I hereby tender my irrevocable resignation as Commissioner-in-Charge and concurrent Head of the Campaign Finance Office, effective today, 20 June 2016,” Lim’s resignation letter read.

“Given the Commission's policy shift resulting from granting the request for extension without any sanctions on the erring candidates and parties — which I had expressly dissented from and is now incongruent with my own views on the matter — I believe that I am unsuitable to continue with my duties as both the concurrent head and Commissioner-in-Charge of the Campaign Finance Office," he added.

Four Comelec commissioners Arthur Lim, Al Parreño, Sheriff Abas and Rowena Guanzon voted in favor of the deadline extension on June 16 while those who voted against it were Lim, Luie Tito Guia and Chairman Juan Andres Bautista. The ruling was also questioned by non-government organization Liga ng Eksplosibong Pagbabago Inc. this morning.

READ: Comelec en banc grants LP request, extends SOCE filing | ‘Duterte-inspired’ NGO files petition to strike out late SOCEs

Comelec ruling 'unacceptable' and 'illegal'

Lim said the en banc’s decision is “unacceptable” after all the Comelec's efforts to campaign for a strict deadline. He added that it is against the law.

“Unacceptable… ibig sabihin ang tagal na naming ano [working on the SOCE filing rules] even in 2013 I was still fighting for the non-extendable rule, ‘di pumayag yung en banc kaya mayroong late penalty. But 2013 was the experimental and 2016 was the culmination, so ngayon you’re back to zero,” Lim explained.

“Actually, sasabihin ko for the record it’s illegal. If you look at the law nakalagay within 30 days (after the elections). If you’d go beyond 30 days that’s tantamount to an amendment of the law [pero] walang nag-question,” he added.

As his views are now inconsistent with his colleagues, Lim said there is no reason for him to take charge of the CFO.

“…..so parang bakit pa ako mag-head? Kasi ngayon wala ng rules e, so ano pang gagawin ko diyan?” Lim said .

Lim's resignation letter was received by the office of Comelec Chairman Bautista and the Comelec secretary. Bautista said the en banc will discuss Lim's resignation in an en banc session on Tuesday.