MENDROS
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still waiting for candidates in the May 9 national and local elections to file their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
Jose Nick Mendros, Comelec-7 director, said that as of yesterday, there have been no early filers of their SOCE.
It has been more than a week since the elections were held on May 9. Both winning and losing candidates are required to file their SOCE on or before June 8, the deadline set by Comelec.
Under Republic Act 7166 or An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, candidates except those running for barangay posts are required to file their SOCEs 30 days after the election.
Those who fail to file their SOCEs for the first time, and depending on the elective post that he had run for, must pay an administrative fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000. For the second offense, the fine is P2,000 to P60,000.
Based on the list of candidates at the Campaign Finance Office of the Comelec, 42 candidates in Cebu failed to submit their SOCE in 2013.
Of the 42, one was a candidate for first district representative, four for mayor, one for vice mayor, and 36 candidates for municipal councilors.
No candidate in Region 7, however, is subject to perpetual disqualification for failing to file his or her SOCE.