PROVINCIAL Election Supervisor Jessie Suarez warned candidates in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections that penalties await those who failed to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce).
Suarez reminded the candidates that submission of Soce is until June 13.
Candidates who fail to submit their Soce on the deadline will be sent demand letter with corresponding penalties from the Campaign Finance Department of Commerce, Suarez warned, adding it’s wise.
Comelec has been warning that failure to submit Soce would put elected officials at risk of being perpetually disqualified to hold public office.
A candidate is any person seeking an elective public office who has filed a certificate of candidacy (COC). Win or lose, all candidates must file their Soce.
The Campaign Finance Office (CFO) published on the website on April 13, 2018, a list of candidates declared with finality by the Commission as perpetually disqualified to hold public office due to repeated failure to file their Soce after elections.
Section 14 of R.A. 7166 requires the filing of Soce, and failure to do so prohibits winning candidates from entering upon the duties of their office until they have complied. Further, the commission of a second or subsequent failure to file the Soce subjects the offender to perpetual disqualification to hold public office.