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Candidates given until June 9 to file campaign expenditures


The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is giving all candidates who ran in the May 10 automated polls until June 9 to file their respective statements of expenditures they incurred, and contributions they received during the campaign period. Comelec Resolution 8944, promulgated Tuesday, says that candidates, political parties, and party-list groups must file three copies of a "full, true, and itemized" statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the elections with the Comelec law department. The resolution defines contribution as "a gift, donation, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to contribute, whether or not legally enforceable, made for the purpose of influencing the result of the elections." It added that this shall include the "use of facilities voluntarily donated by other persons," the monetary value of which can be assessed based on current market value. On the other hand, an expenditure includes the "payment or delivery of money or anything of value, or a contract, promise or agreement to make expenditure, for the purpose of influencing the results of the election." It may also include the "use of facilities personally owned by the candidate," the monetary value of which can also be assessed based on current market value. The resolution says the statement must indicate the amount of contribution, the date of its receipt, and the full name and address of the person who gave the contribution. It should also state the amount of every expenditure, the date it was incurred, the full name and address of the person who paid for it, and the purpose of the expenditure. It should likewise indicate if there is an "unpaid obligation" to any person. The resolution says that failure to file the statement will prevent a person from assuming office, if he is elected. "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 herein required," it said. It added that failure to submit the document will constitute an administrative offense which is punishable by a fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000 at the discretion of the Comelec. On the other hand, contributors also have to file with the Comelec a report of their contributions made to any candidate or treasurer of a political party. Their reports must state their name, residential and business address, the amount and date of each contribution, and the name of the candidate or party who received the contribution. — RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV

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