All candidates reminded about SOCE deadline of submission

WITH the midterm elections over, all candidates, regardless of whether they won or lost, are reminded to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

According to Acting Provincial Election Supervisor Jerome Brillantes, candidates have until June 12 to file their SOCEs.

Candidates in the city and municipal level will submit their SOCEs to their local election officers, while provincial and congressional bets will file their SOCE at Brillantes’ office.

“As long as they’re candidates, they will have to file their SOCE,” he said.

Promulgated last Feb. 28, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10505 provides the omnibus rules and regulations governing campaign finance and disclosure in connection with the May 9, 2016 elections and all elections thereafter.

It said: “No elected candidate shall enter upon the duties of office until he filed his SOCE.”

It added that the office of an elected candidate who failed to file his SOCE shall be considered “vacant” pursuant to Section 11 of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC) until he has complied and submitted his SOCE within six months from proclamation.

According to Brillantes, all candidates and parties who participated in the May 13 elections, regardless of results, must file their SOCE not later than 30 days after the day of election.

Comelec Resolution 10505 further states that except for elected candidate and party-list group, the deadline shall be final and non-extendible.

First-time violators face an administrative fine of between P1,000 and P30,000, while second-time offenders face a fine of between P2,000 and P60,000.

Second-time violators will also be perpetually disqualified from holding public office. (RTF)

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