Few Cebu bets submit SOCEs

Only 11 out of over 40 candidates who ran in the May 9 elections in Cebu City had submitted their statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs), the Cebu City office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

Both outgoing Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and incoming Mayor Tomas Osmeña have yet to submit their SOCEs.

But Rama told Cebu Daily News that he will submit his this morning, the deadline for the SOCE submission.

Reelected Councilors Mary Ann delos Santos, Dave Tumulak, James Anthony Cuenco, and Councilors-elect Joey Daluz III and Jun Alcover submitted their SOCE along with reelected Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa of Cebu City’s south district.

The remaining others who already filed their SOCEs were Team Rama candidate Renato Osmeña and independent candidates Edgardo Eman, Lorenzo Basamot, Juan Arenasa and Federico Peredo.

Abellanosa had the biggest campaign expense tab at P511,580 while Eman spent P225.

In Mandaue City, One Cebu’s mayoral candidate Emmarie “Lollipop” Ouano-Dizon and running mate Beethoven Ceniza Andaya filed their SOCEs yesterday.

In her SOCE, Dizon revealed she spent P555,185.02 and received “in kind” contributions from other sources like campaign streamers and tarpaulins worth P116,420.00

Andaya spent 67,776.00 on stationery, printing and distribution of printed campaign materials.

In the province, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale declared campaign expenses worth P1.04 million while Provincial Board (PB) member Jude Sybico spent P53,978 in the May 9 elections.

The bulk of Magpale’s expenses were spent on political advertisements which amounted to P1,037,639.68. The rest of her expenses were spent for fuel.

Sybico spent the entire amount on printing of his tarpaulins.

There were eight candidates and one political party that filed their SOCEs out of the 71 candidates who ran for governor, vice governor, PB members and congressional seats.

Under the Comelec Rules and Campaign Finance Resolution 9991, the mayor and vice mayor will be fined P20,000 for the first offense and P40,000 in the second offense for failing to submit their SOCEs.

For councilors, they will be fined P15,000 for the first offense and P30,000 for the second offense.

Those who fail to make the deadline will be required to submit their papers to the Comelec Manila office.

Ferdinand Gujilde, Mandaue City election officer, said the Comelec’s campaign finance office will verify the SOCEs.

All candidates are required to either submit their SOCEs personally or authorize a representative to do so.

They have until 5 p.m. today to submit their SOCEs.