DILG: SOCE muna bago upo

Nanindigan ang Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) na walang bagong halal na lokal na opisyal ang makakaupo sa puwesto nang hindi nagsusumite ng kanilang Statement of Contributions and Expenses (SOCE) hanggang sa Hunyo 13, 2019.

“We are reminding the winners to submit their SOCEs to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) this early because they may not be allowed to assume office until they have complied with this requirement,” pahayag ni DILG Undersecretary at Spokesman Jonathan Malaya.

Paalala ni Malaya sa mga nahalal na opisyal, ang paghahain ng SOCE ang kanilang unang “legal obligation to the nation and to the public’’.

“It is always good to start with a clean slate and to prove that you are worthy of the votes of your constituents,” ani Malaya.

Paliwanag niya, kabilang sa mga dapat na nakalagay sa SOCE ang mga cash at inkind contributions mula sa mga partido at iba pang pinagkunan. Gayundin ang mga ginugol mula sa personal funds, out of cash contributions at in-kind contributions.

Itinatakda ng Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 o ang “Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act” na “Every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within 30 days after the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election. No person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures required.”

Upang masiguro naman na maisusumite ng nanalong kandidato ang kanyang SOCE, lumagda kamakailan sa isang kasunduan ang DILG at Comelec, na nagsasaad na kailangang iprisenta ng nanalong kandidato ang isang Certification from the Comelec na nagpapatunay na natapos na nito ang kanyang SOCE obligation.

“In the absence of the Comelec certification, a newly elected official shall not be allowed to perform his/her functions as public officials. His failure to file the SOCE on time would entail a delay in public service and would cause a leadership vacuum in their respective LGUs,” ani Malaya.

Samantala, iginiit din ng tagapagsalita ng DILG na hindi lang mga nanalong kandidato ang kinakailangang magsumite ng SOCE, kundi maging ang mga hindi pinalad, at ang mga disqualified.