Comelec: Some candidates to face PD cases
● Sources say that majority of the offenders were local candidates ● Winning and losing candidates in May 2016 national and local elections are
required to submit their Soces on or before June 8, 2016
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has identified candidates that are likely to face perpetual disqualification (PD) cases for failure to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soces) in two elections.
With this, Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said they are preparing to file cases (moto proprio) against erring politicians.
“We have already (two strike violation)... we are just waiting after the publication (of rules) then we’ll have to undergo due process. We will have to file a petition to consider them perpetually disqualified,” he said.
Lim said that the cases will be filed after scrutiny of the Soces that were submitted for the 2007, 2010, and 2013 polls.
“But anybody interested can also file a case,” he added.
But, the poll body official did not reveal the names and number on how many cases to be filed.
On the other hand, sources revealed that majority of the offenders were local candidates.
Section 14 of the Republic Act 7166 provides that all candidates are required to file their full, true and itemized statement of all con- tributions and expenditures in connection with the election.
Those who failed to file their Soces for a second or subsequent offense shall be subjected to perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
At the same time, the poll body official said that aside from the paper copies, they are also requiring the submission of soft copies of future Soces to make it more manageable and accessible to the public.
Comelec Resolution No. 9991 said that soft or electronic copies of the Soces will be required aside from the three hard copies to be submitted to the Comelec — Campaign Finance Office.
Winning and losing candidates in May 2016 national and local elections are required to submit their Soces on or before June 8, 2016.