LP submits campaign spending report week after deadline

The Liberal Party on Tuesday submitted its statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) at the Commission on Elections' (Comelec) main office in Manila.

This submission came as the poll body's en banc is set to rule on the request of the party and its standard-bearer, Mar Roxas, for a 14-day extension.

The request was filed on the deadline of the submission of SOCE last June 8.

The LP's documents were brought to the Comelec by the staff of the Sardillo Sardillo Salom Law Office.

The documents, however, did not include that of Roxas, the lone presidential candidate who failed to file his SOCE.

According to its SOCE, the party spent at least P241 million in the elections. 

LP declared that it spent a total of P241,097,372.73 in contributions received during the campaign. Its summary report of expenditures showed that the party put majority of its funds in campaign advertisements, which reached nearly P201.4 million.

The party also spent at least P15 million on printed materials, P7.2 million on travel expenses for its candidates and personnel, P4.89 million on "campaigners, clerks, stenographers, messengers, and other persons employed," and P3.4 million on rallies and sorties.

LP declared zero spending on watchers and campaign headquarters, as well as on employing counsel, list of voters, and printing of sample ballots.

The party's standard bearer, Mar Roxas, is the top contributor for theh LP campaign, giving some P60 million. His family also pitched in, including his mother, Judy Araneta-Roxas, who gave P40 million.

Top Comelec officials said Tuesday that they have yet to decide on whether to accept the SOCE, as LP and Roxas' request for a 14-day extension from the June 8 deadline was still pending before the en banc.

Comelec chief Andres Bautista maintained that they will be waiting for recommendation from the campaign finance office, led by senior Commissioner Christian Robert Lim, who was not present in the last two meetings.

According to Republic Act No. 7166, winning candidates cannot assume office if the political party that nominated them fails to file its SOCE within 30 days after the elections.

The same is provided for in Comelec Resolution No. 9991, promulgated in October 2015.

Unlike previous practice, however, this resolution supposedly rules out late filing, as it set June 8, 2016 as a "final and non-extendible" deadline."

Seven winning candidates for national positions, as well as hundreds of local candidates, ran under LP for this elections.

Among them are six senators-elect, and Vice President-elect Leni Robredo. —ALG/KBK, GMA News