Eric Yap Fortuna, who filed his certificate of candidacy early last March, reported spending just P10,448 for his bid.
The report was complete with receipts; and although not in the prescribed format, the Mandaue City Commission on Elections (Comelec) office accepted it.
“Substantial compliance will do,” said City Election Officer Ferdinand Gujilde.
According to the document, Fortuna spent some P4,600 on campaign flyers and almost P900 for gasoline.
He also paid almost P5,000 for renting a motorcycle during the campaign.
Last April, fellow mayoral candidate Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano filed a petition for Comelec to declare Fortuna a nuisance candidate.
Fortuna, however, had said nobody decides for him and that his candidacy should be the least of Ouano’s worries.
He is a cousin of Councilor and Vice Mayor-elect Carlo Pontico Fortuna, Ouano’s runningmate.
The Omnibus Election Code mandates that candidates file before the Comelec a statement of all campaign contributions and expenditures within 30 days after the elections.
The statement must be in writing, and subscribed and sworn to by the candidate.
It should contain the amount of contribution, date of receipt, full name and address of contributor, amount of every expenditure, and purpose of such expense.
It should also include any unpaid obligation.
Under the Code, no elected official shall perform the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures. (AAG)
