- About 20% of mid-term poll bets failed to file SOCE: Comelec
ONLY 79 out of 97 candidates in Davao City managed to beat the Commission on Elections’ deadline to submit their Statements of Contributions and Expenses (SOCE) on the last day of filing on Wednesday, June 11.
In the first congressional district, 22 out of 23 councilor candidates have filed, while all five candidates for the House of Representatives have filed.
For the second district, all three candidates for HOR have filed their SOCE, while 20 out of 25 candidates for councilor have filed.
For the third district, only 20 out of 27 councilor-candidates and two out of five HOR candidates have submitted the necessary documents.
Meanwhile, only three out of five candidates for mayor and all four vice mayoral candidates have filed their SOCE.
Atty. Shajani M. Ebrahim, chairperson of the Board of Canvassers and third district election officer, said they will no longer offer relief to candidates who failed to meet the pre-announced deadline.
“We will not provide an extension since we already gave them 30 days to comply and submit their SOCE,” Ebrahim told reporters, adding that the filed documents will be transmitted directly to the national office.
Republic Act 7166, or the Synchronized Elections Law, mandates that SOCE must be filed within 30 days from the date of elections. In this case, until June 11, since the election day was on May 12.
Failure to submit SOCE will constitute an administrative offense with an administrative fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000. For the second or third commission of the offense, the fine will be from P2,000- P60,000, and the offender will be subject to perpetual disqualification.
Ebrahim said most of the filers are the winning candidates, while those who did not file are the losing candidates.
“Baka nawalan na sila ng interes o gana kasi tapos na ang eleksyon, pero it’s their obligation to file,” the official said.
