Comelec extends SOCE deadline

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) yesterday extended by several hours its deadline for the filing of campaign contributions and expenses by candidates in the May 13 midterm elections. Comelec Director Education and Information Director Frances A. Arabe told reporters in a message that the poll body’s Campaign Finance Office (CFO) would be open until 8 p.m., instead of the regular 5 p.m. closing, to receive the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of candidates. By around noon on June 13, only five elected senators submitted their SOCEs: Pilar Julian “Pia” S. Cayetano, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” T. Go, Grace Poe-Llamanzares, Cynthia A. Villar, and Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay. Around the same period, the Comelec CFO has received only 82 SOCEs out of all the senators, party list groups, and political parties involved in the 2019 elections. Under Comelec rules, a penalty of P10,000 will be imposed on senatorial candidates, political parties, and party-list groups who file late. An exemption is given to winning candidates, who can submit their SOCEs within six months after the May 13 elections but will not assume office until they comply with the requirement. — Gillian M. Cortez