KORONADAL CITY, Philippines – Five elected village councilmen were prevented from assuming their posts after they allegedly failed to submit their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs), a city government official said yesterday.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) issued the order against the five councilmen, according to city operations officer Juanito Agullana.
Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 requires all candidates, losers and winners alike, to file their SOCEs after the elections.
More than 200 village councilors were elected in this city in October.
“They were advised to file their SOCEs with the Comelec central office in Manila,†Agullana said.
Agullana did not say whether the five were able to join the mass oath-taking for all elected village officials of South Cotabato last Nov. 30.