Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito insists he already filed his SOCE

Laguna Governor Emilio Ramon “ER” Ejercito disputed on Friday  Comelec's claim he had failed to submit his statement of election contributions and expenditures (SOCE) after the 2013 midterm polls, saying he had already submitted the document on June 13.

Ejercito said his SOCE was received by the poll body's provincial office in Laguna on the same date. The governor even showed a certified true copy of his SOCE to members of the press to support his claim, according to a report on "Saksi."



The Comelec on Thursday ordered Ejercito and 421 other officials to vacate their posts because of their failure to present their SOCE more than six months after the May 2013 elections.

Other prominent public officials asked by the Comelec to step down include Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, and Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson, the son of Ilocos kingpin Chavit Singson.

Santos-Recto claimed the Comelec failed to inform her about filing the wrong SOCE form. Espino, meanwhile, said he had already submitted his SOCE to the Comelec office in Pangasinan.

According to the Omnibus Election Code, "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."

Section 14 of RA 7166 or the Synchronized Elections Law gives candidates and the treasurer of the political party 30 days after election day to file "the full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election.”

On Friday, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said elected officials who have failed to submit their SOCE or gave "deficient documents" may resume service after fixing their papers.

The poll body said Santos-Recto can continue carrying out her duties as governor since it had already accepted the new SOCE she refiled, which contained her signature.

Ejercito, meanwhile, said he has already asked his lawyer to determine if the SOCE he submitted in June contained any deficiencies he might not have been aware of.

“I have instructed my lawyer to find out from the law department of the Comelec whether or not there are any deficiencies or any documents lacking in those which I have already submitted,” he said. — Xianne Arcangel /LBG, GMA News