Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a stern warning to candidates participating in the upcoming May 12 midterm elections, cautioning them against filing “untruthful” Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).
According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized in an interview that submitting inaccurate SOCEs could result in serious legal consequences, including charges of falsification and perjury. “If you file SOCEs with discrepancy and are untruthful, you can face charges of falsification and perjury. Those are violations of the law,” Garcia stated.
Under the provisions of Republic Act No. 7166, it is mandatory for every candidate and political party to submit “full, true, and itemized” SOCEs within 30 days following election day. Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to administrative fines for the candidates and political parties involved. Additionally, repeat offenders may face perpetual disqualification from holding public office as stipulated by the law.
For this election cycle, the deadline for submitting SOCEs is set for June 11, with Comelec confirming that no extensions will be granted. “We are reminding all candidates, winners or losers, that you are all mandated to file your SOCEs,” Garcia reiterated, underscoring the importance of adhering to election regulations to ensure transparency and integrity in the electoral process.
