Politicians will no longer take SOCE seriously, says ex-Comelec chairman

 

By allowing the administration party to submit its Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) beyond deadline, politicians will no longer take the schedules set by the Commission on Elections seriously, the poll body's former chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said on Sunday.

Brillantes, an election lawyer, said the Comelec set a precedent by allowing candidates and political parties to submit their SOCEs until June 30. The original deadline was June 8.

“Now, who is going to believe in the deadline that the Comelec will set in the next elections? Nobody. They will just think that they can just ask for an extension,” he said.

The former Comelec chairman said those who will request for an extension in filing their SOCEs need only cite the LP’s case to justify their appeal.  

“They will simply use the reasoning that the Comelec granted the request of the LP (Liberal Party) in 2016. Why not us?” he said. 

Voting 4-3, the Comelec en banc last week granted the request of LP and similar other petitions to extend the deadline for filing SOCEs.

On June 16, the Comelec en banc, voted, 4-3, has moved the June 8 deadline to June 30.

Those who voted to grant the extension were commissioners Arthur Lim, Al Parreño, Sheriff Abas, and Rowena Guanzon.

Those who voted to deny the request were Comelec chairman Andres Bautista, and commissioners Luie Guia and Christian Robert Lim.

Lim is the head of the Comelec campaign finance office (CFO) that recommended the denial of the LP request.

Candidates who failed to file their SOCEs last June 8 include LP standard-bearer Mar Roxas, the lone presidential candidate who did not submit, as well as 15 senators, 40 governors, and 115 congressional representatives.

The extension also covers two other national political parties, including reelected Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and Aksyon Demokratiko.

A day after the en banc's vote on his recommendation, Christian Robert Lim announced his plan to quit his post at the CFO, citing the “unacceptable” policy shift.

In response to criticism about the en banc’s ruling, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body also extended the deadline for filing the SOCE following the 2013 elections.

At that time, the Comelec, which was chaired by Brillantes, moved the deadline from June 12, 2013 to May 12, 2014, and subsequently, to June 30, 2014.

Section 14 of Republic Act 7166 states that all candidates and political parties must file their respective SOCEs 30 days after the day of the election.

In his defense, Brillanres said the difference between the 2013 scenario and that of present was the presence of the penalties for late filing in the midterm elections.  

“In their decision now, they did not impose any penalties to late filers. It’s like they are forgiving the late filers altogether,” he said. 

The former poll body chief said the Comelec should have allow late filing with the imposition of the administrative fines. — APG, GMA News