CONTRIBUTIONS for the campaign of President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III came mostly from his relatives and known businessmen, his statement of election contributions and expenditure showed.
A total of P440 million was contributed for the candidacy of Aquino, P37 million of which was not spent, according to his declaration.
Among those who donated the biggest chunk were his sisters actress Kris Aquino-Yap with P15 million and Pinky Abellada with P5 million.
Former PLDT chairman Antonio "Tony Boy" Cojuangco donated the highest amount at P100 million in cash. Tony Boy currently owns Dream Satellite and the Bank of Commerce among others.
Shelling out P20 million each are Martin Ignacio Lorenzo of Del Monte Philippines and Bu Hong Chiong, a known business tycoon in Ozamis City. David and Elena Lim of the Solid Group of Companies donated P10 million each.
Officials behind Cats Motors, Philsteel Group of Companies and Far Eastern University also donated millions of pesos for the Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer. Former Philippine ambassador to the Vatican Howard Dee made a contribution at three million pesos.
For its part, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is the President-elect's decision not to spend the excess P37 million.
"It's something that the Comelec has no control," spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters.
Defeated presidential bets Jamby Madrigal, Gilberto Teodoro, Manny Villar and even disqualified candidate Vetellano Acosta have also submitted their statements of expenditures.
Roxas's expenditures
LP's vice-presidential bet, Mar Roxas, who lost to incumbent Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay meanwhile spent P279 million for his bid, which he vows to continue through an electoral protest.
Out of the total amount, P246 million were from contributions. The contribution report showed that Mar's uncle Jorge Araneta, aunt Maria Fores and mother Judy Roxas shelled out P50 million each.
His brother-in-law Augusto Ojeda also chipped in P20 million.
Other VP candidates who have turned in their expenditure reports are Loren Legarda, Bayani Fernando, and Perfecto Yasay.
Other national candidates
Newly-elected senators Bong Revilla, Juan Ponce Enrile, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Bongbong Marcos, Jinggoy Estrada and Lito Lapid have also filed their statements of expenditures and contributions to the poll body.
Cayetano received P42.9 million worth of contributions, Drilon got P22 million, and Bongbong had P93 million.
Meanwhile, defeated senatorial bet Emilio Mario "Lito" Osmena spent P13.5 million for his candidacy.
Osmena, who ran under the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives (Promdi) party, declared P13,584,474.59 as the total expenditures paid out of his personal funds. Not a single centavo was contributed for his candidacy.
Before losing his senatorial bid, the former governor of Cebu also bowed down to Joseph "Erap" Estrada during the 1998 vice-presidential elections. Lito is the cousin of senator-elect and independent candidate Serge.
Ramon Mitra, Kit Tatad, Colonel Ariel Querubin have also declared their poll expenditures.
Comelec has extended the filing of the said reports until June 24 after some national candidates, including VP-elect Binay, requested for a 15-day extension.
The poll body's spokesperson cleared that the commission only looks into the spending and not the funds declared by the candidates. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)