Comelec: Only few Eleksyon 2025 bets have filed SOCEs

Just a few local and national candidates in Eleksyon 2025 have so far filed their Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCEs) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), more than two weeks after the May 12 polls.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Tuesday said, "Wala pa halos. Baka nagpapasa sila ng SOCE sa mga local Comelec pero sa national—whether party-list or Senado—wala pa halos nagfa-file sapagkat alam natin na hanggang June 11 ang filing," said poll chairperson George Erwin Garcia.

(There are only a few candidates. Maybe some filed their SOCEs at the local Comelec offices but for the national bets, whether candidates for party-list or Senate, only a few have complied. We know that the filing deadline is on June 11.)

Under Section 14 of Republic Act (RA) 7166 or the Synchronized Elections Act, every candidate or treasurer of a political party shall file in duplicate with the offices of the Comelec the "full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election" within 30 days after the elections, or until June 11, 2025.

Candidates who fail to file their SOCEs will be charged with an administrative offense and will be liable to pay a fine from P1,000 to P30,000 at the discretion of the poll body, except for aspirants at the barangay level. For winning bets or political parties, failure to comply may also result in withholding the candidates' assumption of office.

For his part, Garcia reminded Eleksyon 2025 bets—including those who withdrew their candidacies after February 11 for national posts or March 28 for local positions—to study their SOCEs to avoid election offenses.

"Pinapa-remind natin ang lahat na sana pag-aralan nang mabuti ang SOCE na ifa-file nila. Alamin, tingnan mabuti, 'wag basta pipirma. Ibase lagi sa registered voters, hindi sa number of voters who actually voted sapagkat baka sumobra sa fina-file nila at therefore, makakasuhan sila ng kasong criminal," he said.

(We want to remind candidates to study the SOCEs they intend to file. They should base it on registered voters and not the number of voters who actually voted because this may be filed with criminal cases.)

"Violation ng SOCE rule and at the same time, puwedeng maging ground for perpetual disqualification para manungkulan, whether appointive or elective, lalo na at di sila makakapag file ng SOCEs," Garcia added.

(That would constitute a violation of SOCE rules and may be used as ground for perpetual disqualification from public service, whether appointive or elective, especially if they fail to file SOCEs.)

Section 13 of Republic Act (RA) 7166 provides the limitation of authorized expenses of candidates and political parties. It states that candidates vying for the presidency and vice-presidency shall spend P10 for every voter, while aspirants with political parties are allowed to spend P3 for every voter currently registered in the constituency where he or she filed his or her certificate of candidacy.

Independent candidates, meanwhile, are allowed to spend up to P5 per voter.

Political parties, for their part, are allowed up to P5 for every voter currently registered in the constituency or constituencies where it has official candidates. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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