4 days from deadline: Only 4 candidates have submitted SOCE

CEBU, Philippines - With only four days left before the deadline for the submission of the statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE), only four winning candidates in Cebu province have complied so far with the requirements.

One of whom is Third District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia who posted a total of P884,906 election-related expenses. Bulk of the amount went to stationery, printing and distribution of printed campaign materials at P734,550.

She shelled out P80,000 for television, radio, and newspaper promotions, P27,344.47 for travel expenses and incidental expenses, and P43,012 for the printing of sample ballots.

Her SOCE also showed that the expenditures were paid from her personal resources.

Her contender, incumbent Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, declared P516,013 in expenses.

The amount was spent on TV, radio and newspaper advertisements at P253,289.34, campaign materials at P130,969, political meetings and rallies at P24, 856, and travel expenses at P10, 899.

She also relied on her personal resources to fund the expenses.

Garcia was given a fresh mandate with 140,097 votes, while Zaballero garnered 83,023 votes.

Apart from Garcia, other winning candidates who have submitted their SOCE to the Commission on Elections-Cebu are Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon who incurred a total of P173,477.50 expenses, and board members Miguel Antonio Magpale (P20, 081.36) and Christopher Baricuatro (P37, 292).

All candidates, winning or losing, are required to file their SOCE within 30 days after the elections.

No winning candidates will be allowed to assume office unless and until they have secured a certificate of compliance from election officers that they have complied with the SOCE requirement.

Under the law, campaign expenditures of party-affiliated candidates should not exceed P3 for every voter currently registered in the area where the candidate filed his certificate of candidacy, while a candidate who is not affiliated to any political party can spend P5 for every voter.

Lawyer Eliseo Labaria, acting Comelec-Cebu election supervisor, said his office cannot determine if the amount declared in the SOCE was the actual expenditure since they only have ministerial duties to receive the SOCEs.

"Ang compliance nga gipangayo namo ana kay kun pila expenditures kinahanglan dunay supporting document," said Labaria.

He added that it is the Comelec Campaign Finance Unit which will evaluate the expenses if they complied with the spending cap.

Failure to submit the SOCE will mean perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

Deadline for the submission of SOCE is set for June 8. — (FREEMAN)