A FINAL call to all candidates to file their election expenses has been made by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Northern Mindanao after the deadline of filing expired on June 13.
Only 28 out of 64 candidates filed reports on their election spending and contributions.
Comelec 11 director Noli Pipo on Thursday reiterated Comelec’s call for all candidates of the May 13 synchronized national and local election to file their election contributions and expenditures.
Noli said that based on Comelec Resolution 9616 promulgated in January this year, all candidates are directed to file contributions and expenditures.
In Cagayan de Oro City, vice mayor-elect Cesar Ian Acenas was the first to file in compliance with the directive. Acenas filed his report on June 7.
Legal action
Cagayan Comelec Officer Palmer Palamine said failure of the candidates to file their report is a ground for legal action.
The same Comelec Resolution 9616 also stipulates the election violations of the May 2013 election as well as limits the expenditure of politicians to just P3.00 per voters.
“By law, a candidate is only allowed to spend P3 per voter and the Comelec can verify and cross match their statements,” Palamine said.
When Roger Villazorda filed his statement Thursday, he submitted the original contract of his printing for tarpaulins and other contracts for supply of election paraphernalia.
Congressman Rufus Rodriguez, who has already filed his statement, reported that he spent P432,000 and his counterpart, Representative Rolando Uy filed more than P200,000 in expenses.
Palamine said that for the late submission of candidates’ reports, “they will have to file it in Manila.”
“Candidates have to explain why they were not able to file their report, but I doubt if the legal department will entertain any alibi. The legal department will always file a case for not submitting their report,” Palamine said.
Palamine said that for winning candidates who fail to file their statements, they cannot officially function for their position.
“We have a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that in case of failure to comply, they cannot sit in their position,” Palamine said.
On Thursday afternoon, representatives of candidates started to flock to the city Comelec, to file their election contributions and expenditures.
While other candidates submitted receipts and contracts for their election paraphernalia, others did not.
Palamine said they will be requiring the candidates to submit their receipts and contracts as these are part of their requirements.
One representative of a losing candidate said that he was not aware of the requirement of attaching original contracts to the statement. She will have to submit if afterwards, she said.
Palamine said that failure to submit supporting documents as requirements will ring suspicious bells and so he is urging candidates to submit them along with their statement report.