A CANDIDATE for the upcoming local midterm elections in 2019 was disqualified by the Commission on election failing to submit his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures(SOCE) in two successive elections.
Baguio City Election Supervisor lawyer John Paul Martin said the decision came from Comelec’s second division with the petitioner represented by its campaign finance office.
The disqualified candidate, whose name was withheld by Comelec is running for vice mayor.
Based on the resolution, it reads “the petition seeks to perpetually disqualify respondent from holding public office and impose on him administrative fines on account of his alleged failure to file his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures(SOCE) during the 2013 and 2016 National and Local Elections.”
“This serves as a reminder to those who plan to run for public office in the future that the commission is serious in implementing the corresponding penalties to those who does not comply with the rules pertaining to local and national elections,” Martin explained.
The resolution meted the respondent a P40,000 fine for failure to submit his SOCE in connection with the 2016 National and Local Elections aside from perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
The respondent is likewise directed to pay an administrative fine of P20,000 imposed by Comelec in his first offense.
A copy of the resolution will be submitted to the Office of the President, Civil Service Commission, Department of the Interior and Local Governments and the Local Government of Baguio City.
The order was signed by Luietito Guia as the Presiding Commissioner, Socorro Inting as Second Member, and Antonio Kho as Junior Member.