Comelec: Officials ordered to vacate post may resume service after fixing SOCE

The Comelec on Friday urged elected officials who won in the 2013 midterm polls but failed to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), or gave "deficient documents" to just fix their papers so they could immediately resume their posts.

"As far as we are concerned, if they can correct naman [their] deficiencies, hindi na nila kailangang bumaba [sa pwesto], ayusin na lamang nila ang kanilang submissions. Sundin lang natin ang... prescribed form, sundin lamang ang signatory [requirements], tapos na ang usapan diyan," Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in an interview on "News To Go."



Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. had asked over 400 elected officials who failed to submit their SOCE or gave deficient documents to vacate their posts.

Brillantes named Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Laguna Gov. E. R. Ejercito, Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, and Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson, the son of Ilocos kingpin Luis "Chavit" Singson, among the 422 officials who failed to properly accomplish their SOCE more than six months after the May 2013 polls.

Among the members of the House of Representatives who reportedly did not submit their SOCE on time are former President and Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon.

The Comelec chief said he sent a letter to the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Office of the House Speaker to implement the law, but added that he cannot compel the elected officials to vacate their posts pending the submission of the required documents.

Jimenez said the poll body has reviewed every submission and found some deficiencies, including failure of the official to personally sign the documents.

"Some people have been claiming nga that they have submitted... walang problema... they did submit documents, but the question is, was the submission proper? Hindi lang ito basta magbibigay [ka] ng dokumento, tapos [okay] na. Mayroon tayong prescribed form... and a lot are saying that they have submitted... but were using improper forms," he said.

"Unfortunately, when you look at the records now, you see they are signed by this person or  that person, but not the candidates themselves. So yes, they have submitted documents, but the submissions have not been basically according to form," he added, noting that Santos-Recto and Arroyo were among the ones who failed to personally sign their documents.

He said once the officials have fixed their documents, they may resume their posts. "Actually, it takes more time to complain about it than actually fix [the problem]," he said.

Earlier, Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto claimed the Comelec failed to inform her about filing the wrong SOCE form.

“We did comply. [Nag-file ako ng SOCE], nauna pa sa deadline,” Recto said in an interview on “Balitanghali” on Thursday.

“We didn’t get any letter from them [Comelec]. Kung may problema, dapat nakakuha sana kami ng letter para na-correct namin,” she said.

Asked if elected officials were informed prior to the order to vacate their posts, Jimenez said in an interview on "Unang Hirit:" "Sa pagkakaintindi ko, alam nilang may deficiencies sila." — Amanda Fernandez /LBG, GMA News