Comelec reminds poll bets to file SOCE

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Bacolod City is reminding all the local candidates to file their statements of election contributions and expenditures (SOCE) within 30 days after the midterm elections.

Acting Bacolod elecwhat tion registrar Ann Janette Lamban said all the candidates, both winners and losers, should submit the SOCE at Comelec office.

She said the deadline of the filling of SOCE will be on June 12.

She added that as of yesterday, they did not receive SOCE from any candidates in Bacolod.

Lamban noted that it’s part of the requirements of all the candidates to submit their SOCE after the elections.

Only those candidates who withdrew their candidacy are not required to file their SOCE.

Independent candidates are allowed by law to spend P5 per voter and P3 per voter for those who ran under a political party.

SOCE is a comprehensive report about the campaign contributions and expenditures of political candidates.

Lamban disclosed that the Comelec Campaign Finance Committee will validate and evaluate the submitted SOCE.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said that all candidates regardless of whether or not they won in the 2019 elections must submit their SOCE.

Jimenez said that those who would fail to submit may face administrative sanctions and electoral protest.

The usual complaints in violation of the Fair Election Act were on vote buying, gun ban and campaign materials.

The Comelec earlier formed a task force to prevent vote buying. They prepared pro-forma document in case a complainant files a complaint for vote buying where he or she can just fill up the document and have it notarized or done under oath. *