Was that P15 million given to a candidate for mayor by a candidate for congressman receipted? Most probably not, or the giver would be waving the receipt in the givee's face: "You won using my money and I lost, you bastard!"
Who keeps receipts for expenses that aren't legal or exceed election law limit?
The candidate is careful about his expenses, not so much they are within budget as the paper trail doesn't show overspending or unlawful spending.
Chicken legs
A candidate can't explain why chicken legs cost P2,000 each in entertaining barangay chiefs, or "promo" expenses run up to P50,000 per radio microphone.
The candidate doesn't lug his receipts to the Comelec and the poll body hardly has zeal or time to go over them. But it can when it decides to do so.
Candidates' accountants are told to limit spending records to what the law says: X pesos per Y number of voters. Ridiculously impractical. The result: unbelievable claims.
Would you believe Rep. Nerissa Ruiz spent P775,000 and Luigi Quisumbing spent P777,000? How many propaganda materials and poll watchers will less than a million pesos fetch?
Atan Guardo spent only P677,000. He couldn't afford it even if the south district were for sale. Did anti-arthritis drugs pay for those TV commercials?
If I believe Atan and the others, I have to believe Mary Joyce Osmeña who claims spending a little over P1 million in running for governor. Who said this Osmeña doesn't have money?
