The Commission on Election (Comelec) XI yesterday reminded local candidates not to wait for the June 13 deadline to file their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE).
City Election Officer Krisna Samantha Caballero said candidates who failed to compy are facing sanctions.
Caballero said all candidates are required to submit SOCE whether or not they won and “even if they are claiming that they did not spend even a peso during the campaign.”
Two days before the deadline Caballero said there are already local candidates who filed their SOCE but she is yet to determine how many candidates have already complied in accordance to the mandate of the law.
Under the law, SOCE must be filed 30 days after the elections, which is supposedly on June 12. However, it was agreed to be moved on the following day to give way for the observance of the Philippine Independence Day.
“There will be an administrative sanction for first time offender but if it’s already on a second time or so, aside of paying bigger amount of administrative fine, they will face perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” Caballero said.
Candidates who will fail to submit SOCE will face an administrative fine ranging from P1,000 to P10,000. After the deadline, only the SOCE of the winning candidates will be accepted within six months, however they will not be allowed to assume office until then.
