CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded the candidates for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) before the deadline set on June 13.

Win or lose, all candidates for the recent elections must file their SOCEs not later than the June 13 deadline, said Comelec Pampanga Officer Lydia Pangilinan.

Pangilinan warned that candidates who fail to submit their Soce before the deadline may face sanction of being “perpetually disqualified to hold public office”.

Pangilinan noted of the Section 14 of Republic Act 7166, which states that winning candidates who fail to file their Soce would be prohibited from holding public office until he or she complies with the requirement

“This will be part of documentation to ensure that candidates, both losing and winning, did not exceed their campaign spendings and exercise fairness among their fellow candidates,” she said.

Pangilinan noted that barangay and SK is vital as it is where people directly experience government, therefore, our frontline public officials must be sterling exemplars of upright, law-abiding citizens to the public whom they pledge to serve.

“Our office will be open until June 13 and those who will file their SOCEs beyond that date will not be accepted and will be recorded in our system for proper sanctioning,” Pangilinan said.