MANILA, (PNA) — Now that the conduct of the October 28 barangay elections in the country is over, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded winning and losing candidates in the village polls to file their Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) on or before November 27.
“Kailangan nila mag file SOCE dapat by November 27 makapag file sila kasi ‘yan ang regulation natin within 30 days after the elections,” said Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez in a telephone interview.
He said that candidates may file their SOCEs to Election Officers (EOs) in their localities during office hours.
“Kung gusto nila magfile today pwede na pero ang deadline ay sa 27. Kailangan na Iinclude nila dun lahat ginastos nila, lahat contributions sa kanila,” Jimenez said.
Likewise, he evoked that all the details in the SOCEs are true and precise.
“Kailangan tama at accurate ‘yung kanilang submissions. ‘Yung amount ng contributions, receipts, full name nung contributor. Kailangan din ‘yung amount ng bawat expenditure kung kelan ginastos at tsaka kung kanino binayad, ‘yung purpose among others,” Jimenez said.
He added, “Dapat sworn to ‘yung kanilang filing so dapat talaga kumpleto kumbaga under oath yan e. Very important and complete kung incomplete ang statement it has to be treated as not having been filed.”
The poll body official said that they will also be strict in the implementation of the IRR since they were strict in the last polls.
“We are also being strict ngayon kasi kapag hindi natin hinigpitan ngayon magkakaroon ng parang special treatment sa barangay e unfair naman ‘yun. So kung strict tayo nung May 13 strict din tayo sa lahat,” Jimenez said.
The Omnibus Election Code requires all candidates are required to file their SOCEs to the Comelec within 30 days after Election Day containing “the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election”.
Failure to do so could result to filing of election offense cases, which could mean one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from holding public office.