Both Cebu City Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña and outgoing mayor Michael Rama spent more than P1 million during the May 9 elections based on the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) they submitted yesterday.
Osmeña spent P1,846,017.23 of which P1,628,463 went to TV, radio, newspaper, and website commercials.
Rama stated in his SOCE that he spent P1,331,063.07 and his biggest expenditures went to poll watchers whom he paid P672,700. He also spent P234,894 for newspaper, radio, and TV ads.
The Cebu City office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said both Osmeña and Rama authorized their representatives to submit their SOCEs to them.
As the 5 p.m. deadline lapsed, about 65 out of 71 candidates who ran for various posts in the province last May 9 submitted their SOCEs to the Comelec provincial office.
“For those unable to submit by 5 p.m., it’s possible that the Comelec office in Manila will issue a memo directing candidates to just submit their SOCE to them,” Comelec provincial election asst. Ronnie Amistoso said.
The Comelec provincial office continued accommodating seven representatives of candidates who submitted their SOCEs even past 5 p.m. since they were able to log in before the deadline.
Among those who submitted were reelected Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III who declared P4.68 million in election expenditures.
Davide said he received P3 million in contributions from various sources including his father, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr.
Of the amount, P1 million were in cash contributions, while P2 million were in kind.
The remaining P1.6 million were from the governor’s personal funds.
Based on his SOCE, Davide’s biggest election contribution came from a certain Erwin Mutuc of Quezon City who gave P1.99 million in both cash and material contributions.
The bulk of Davide’s expenses went to newspaper, TV, radio, and other advertisements at P2 million.
Another P1 million was spent on stationery, printing and distribution of printed materials.
He also spent P893,395.26 for his and his campaign personnel’s travels during the campaign.
Reelected Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale already submitted her SOCE earlier.
One Cebu gubernatorial candidate Winston Garcia and his running mate Nerissa Soon-Ruiz submitted their SOCEs yesterday afternoon.
But Comelec personnel refused to show copies of their SOCEs as of 7:30 pm since they were still busy processing other SOCEs.
Amistoso said the Comelec’s campaign finance office in Manila will verify the SOCEs.
The Comelec provincial office has until June 15 to submit all SOCEs to Manila.
In Mandaue City, only 19 out of 29 candidates filed their SOCEs yesterday.
Mandaue City Mayor-elect Gabriel Luis Quisumbing declared expenses totaling P383,978.00 paid for by his own pocket.
Of that amount P45,039 went to buy coco lumber; P97,740 for campaign shirts; P95,608 for stickers, leaflets and handbills (or sample ballots); P51,200 for tarpaulins; and P94,400 for the employment of poll watchers.
His running mate and Vice Mayor-elect Carlo Pontico Cabahug Fortuna spent P262,733.90. Quisumbing’s rival Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon of One Cebu spent P438,765.23 of her money to fund her campaign.
She also received in-kind contributions consisting of campaign streamers and tarpaulins worth P116,420.32.
Her running mate in One Cebu, Beethoven Ceniza Andaya, spent P67,776.00.
An independent vice mayoral candidate, Estanislao Gonzaga Sanchez Jr., tried to submit his SOCE, but it was not accepted because it was type-written.
Sanchez said he thought type-written SOCEs were allowed./with UP Cebu Intern Morexette Erram