ONLY 13 candidates in the May 13, 2019 elections in Cebu Province have submitted their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) and so far, incoming congressman Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco (5th) and Provincial Board (PB) Member Glenn Soco (6th) are among the biggest spenders.
In the SOCE that he filed on May 30, 2019, Frasco reported spending P999,702.96 for his campaign. Soco said he spent P512,273.31.
None of the 13 candidates who submitted their SOCE before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Cebu Province as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 11, exceeded the spending limit in their respective districts.
Candidates have until June 13 to submit their SOCE.
Based on her SOCE, the bulk of vice gubernatorial candidate Marie Daphne Salimbangon’s expenses that amounted to P156,290.12 was for the printing and distribution of campaign materials at P100,000.
She also spent P43,378.32 for travel expenses and P12,911.80 for telecommunication and courier charges. She did not declare any contribution in cash or kind.
Except for incoming sixth district congresswoman Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon, four out of seven elected Cebu district representatives did not declare any contributions for their campaign.
Other big spenders are Dizon (P369,522.79), reelected second district Rep. Wilfredo Caminero (P307,037.70) and incoming Fifth District PB Member Andrei “Red” Duterte (P199,957.47).
Comelec rules require election bets, whether winner or loser, to submit their SOCE 30 days after the May 13 elections. No elected official may assume office without filing the SOCE.
As stated in Republic Act 7166, which provides for synchronized national and local elections and for electoral reforms, an aspiring president and vice president shall spend only P10 per registered voter. Other candidates spend P3 per voter.
Independent candidates or candidates without the support of political parties, though, may spend up to P5 per voter. (RTF)