File Soce before June 13, BSKE candidates warned

ALL the candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2018 are advised to file their statements of election contributions and expenditures (Soce) not later than June 13.

Comelec-Davao spokesperson Krisna Samantha Caballero said the candidates, either winner or loser, must file their Soce on or before June 13, or face the consequence of being perpetually disqualified to hold any public office.

The Soce is a thorough and comprehensive report about the campaign contributions and expenditures of the political candidates.

According to Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, all electoral candidates and parties concerned are required to submit their respective Soces despite the outcome.

“Our frontline public officials should be sterling exemplars of upright, law-abiding citizens to the public. A subsequent failure to file the Soce subjects the offender to perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” Caballero said.

The Campaign Finance Office (CFO) posted last month in its official website the list of candidates declared with finality by the Comelec as perpetually disqualified to hold public office due to repeated failure to file their Soce after election.

Section 14 of the Republic Act 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.