SIX persons who vied for various positions in the local elections in Baguio City last May have failed to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce).
Baguio City election supervisor John Paul Martin said based on Republic Act 7166, all persons who filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) and all electoral parties should file a true and correct Soce within 30 days after election.
"There are 66 out of 72 candidates who have filed for their certificates of candidacies who ran in Baguio City during the last election who have filed and complied with their Statement of Contribution and Expenditures or Soce. For the position of congressman, all filed their Soces. For mayor, one did not file, same with the vice-mayor, while for the 52 councilors, four did not file their Soces," said Martin.
This happened despite the one day extension granted by the electoral tribunal on the deadline of filing the Soce of all candidates in the May 13, 2019 midterm elections.
"I think no extension will be given to those who have not submitted their Soces because those who did not file are all losing candidates to which they will not be given a special treatment since most of the candidates have complied. So let's wait on what possible cases may be filed against those who have not filed their Soces," Martin said.
Failure to submit a Soce may result in the imposition of administrative sanctions against candidates and electoral parties, while incomplete statements and reports will be imposed an administrative penalty.
As per Commission on Elections (Comelec) Resolution 10505, "an incomplete report does not contain all the required information, or does not conform to the prescribed form."
Late filing of Soce may be subject to administrative penalty.
"Non-filing of Soces for two consecutive times will be prohibited from running for any elective positions. A case will be filed against them for perpetual disqualification from holding any elective or appointive office. Our campaign finance office will be looking on how many times they have failed to submit their Soces for them to be imposed with the corresponding administrative as well as electoral liabilities," Martin said.
Martin added that those who failed to file their Soces are mayoralty candidate Jeffrey Pinik, vice-mayoralty candidate Felizardo Garcia, and candidates for councilor Philip Canuto, Gordon Monserate, Nick Niala and Ted Tan.
In 2018, the Comelec perpetually disqualified a total of 105 candidates from holding public office "due to repeated failure to file their Soce" after past elections.
Martin re-assumed his position as city election supervisor after serving as election supervisor in Bangued, Abra during the May 2019 midterm elections.