“Donations” help bets win in May 9 elections

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña had the biggest campaign expenses among the other 62 candidates in the city in the last May 9 elections.

In his Statement of Contributions and expenditures (SOCE), Tomas declared P1.85 million spent from his personal funds, claiming he has not received any donation from relatives, other sources, and his political party.

The bulk of his expenses, amounting to P1.6 million, was spent for ads in newspapers, radios, televisions, and in website and Internet ad placements to promote his candidacy.

Tomas also spent P51,590 for stationery and printing and distribution of printed materials in relation to his candidacy; and P50,000 for a legal counsel, among others.

On the other hand, outgoing Mayor Michael Rama has declared P1.33 million in total campaign expenses in the last elections.

In his SOCE, Rama said he accepted P800,000 cash contributions from Florencia Pesquera (P150,000) and Corazon del Prado (P650,000) and spent P531,063.07 in personal funds.

The bulk of his expenses (P672,700) went to the employ of poll watchers. He said he spent only P234,894.14 for advertisements.

Vice Mayor-elect Edgardo Labella, on the other hand, said he spent P211,619 in personal funds while losing vice mayoral candidate Nestor Archival Sr. said he used P1.19 million in personal funds. Both Labella and Archival said he did not receive donations and contributions.

Meanwhile, north district Congressman Raul del Mar said he used P610,947.87 while reelected south district Congressman Rodrigo Abellanosa said he spent P511,580.

Councilor-elect Jocelyn Pesquera said she got P90,000 cash and P50,000 in-kind contribution from Florencia Pesquera and P3,214 from Wilfredo Pesquera. She said she received P36,786 in-kind donation for her newspaper advertisement from Wilfredo. She reported that she spent P326,646.14 in the last elections.

Others who won for the council said they have not received contributions and only used personal funds for their election expenses: Alvin Arcilla (P206,377.14); Raymond Alvin Garcia (P158,410); Margarita "Margot" Osmeña (P941,212.29); Sisinio Andales (P192,395.44); Eugenio Gabuya (P171, 162.60); Nendell Hanz Abella (P239,326.59); Joel Garganera (P97,753.78); Eduardo Rama (P296,531.42); and Joy Young (P155,936.50).

At the Capitol, reelected Cebu Governor Hilario Davide said he spent P4.69 million, with P1 million as cash contributions and more than P2 million as in-kind contributions. He said he did not receive any campaign funds from the Liberal Party. Davide also used 1.654 million in personal funds.

"Wala koy nadawat sa LP (Liberal Party). Mahulog ra nga personal expenses to tanan," he said.

As to his expenses, he said he spent P1.1 million for the printing and distribution of campaign materials; P893,395 for traveling expenses and incidental personal expenses; P286,187 for printing of sample ballots; P271,527 for political meetings and rallies ; and P100,000 for a legal counsel.

He said he allocated P22,064 for the rental and refurnishing of their campaign headquarters and P300 for telephone and communication expenses.

 He, however, did not spend for stipends for election watchers as well as for his campaigners and staff members, unlike in the 2013 elections wherein he spent P200,000 to pay his campaigners.

On the other hand, lawyer Mel Amadora of One Cebu said losing gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia's campaign expenditures were also sourced from his personal funds. Garcia spent at least a million less than Davide III,

On the other hand, reelected Vice Governor Agnes Magpale said she has shelled out P1 million in donations to fund her campaign and election-related activities and expenses, with the bulk of the amount spent for television, radio, and newspaper promotions.

Magpale's SOCE showed that she received P1.04 million "from other sources" for political advertisement on televisions.

As of this writing, only 37 of 71 Cebu Province candidates submitted their SOCE with the Comelec-Cebu province.

Assistant Election Officer Ronnie Amiroso said they already closed the acceptance of SOCE s at 5 p.m. yesterday and that those who cannot submit on time will not be entertained by their office.

"Katong dili kaabot sa 5 (p.m), posibleng maghimo og memorandum ang Manila nga direct na ang pag-submit didto." Amiroso told reporters.

He said the municipal Comelec offices will submit the SOCEs to them at the provincial level today, while Comelec province would have until June 15 to submit all the SOCEs to Comelec central office.

Amiroso said it is the Campaign Finance unit of Comelec that would check and verify the expenditures of the candidates the last elections

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 he has 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.

Meanwhile, in Lapu-Lapu City, re-elected Mayor Paz Radaza said she spent P600, 000 in the last elections.

She said did not accept contributions from administration Liberal Party and used her own money to produce campaign materials like shirts and posters.

Aside from Radaza, mayoralty candidate Angel Rodriguez of United Nationalist Alliance and his vice mayoral candidate Concordio Amistad likewise filed their SOCE yesterday morning.

As of 1 p.m. yesterday, at least nine candidates for city councilors have filed their SOCE:

Erlin Goyod, the city's election assistant, said that as of 6 p.m. yesterday, at least 30 candidates have filed their SOCEs.

She said more were still to file their documents, including mayoral bets Rolando Patalinjug and Efrain Pelaez, Jr., independent candidate Benjamin Gara, as well as Radaza's Deretso Team slate.

In Mandaue City, election assistant Jacqueline Reuyan said that as of 5 p.m. 19 candidates have filed their SOCE including mayor-elect Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing, vice-mayor-elect Carlo Fortuna.

One Cebu members Emmarie "Lolypop" Ouano-Dizon and losing vice-mayoralty bet Beethhoven Andaya filed their SOCEs last Monday. -  with Michael Vencynth H. Braga

(FREEMAN)