COMPLIANT. Reelected Councilor Candice Magdalane Tupas (left) files her Statement of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCE) at the Comelec Iloilo City office on May 30, 2022. Iloilo City Comelec Election Assistant Jonathan Sayno on Friday (June 10,2022) said 32 of the 37 candidates in the city were able to file their SOCE. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Candice Tupas FB page)
ILOILO CITY – Five candidates who ran and lost in the recent elections in Iloilo City failed to beat the June 8, 2022 deadline for the filing of the Statement of Contribution and Expenditures, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said here on Friday.
“Out of the 37 candidates, only 32 have submitted and five failed to comply. Candidates, whether they win or lose, should file their SOCE,” said Iloilo City Comelec Election Assistant Jonathan Sayno in an interview.
Those who failed to submit were congressional candidate lawyer Juni Espinosa, mayoral candidate Vicente Ang and aspirants for the city council Vic Anoche, Mor Espinosa, and Efren Gimeo.
He said they should expect a notice of failure to file SOCE that goes with an administrative fine after determination by the Comelec Legal Office.
The fine will double the second time they run and again fail to submit SOCE and for the third time, the candidate will face the penalty of perpetual disqualification to hold public office.
“Their payment of penalty will not absolve them of the violation. The violation is still counted and on the third failure to file SOCE, the perpetual disqualification will really take effect,” Sayno said.
He added that so far among the five candidates, Juni Espinosa when he first ran also failed to file his SOCE although the record is with their Campaign Finance Office at the Comelec central office.
However, winning candidates can still file their SOCE belatedly within six months from the date of the proclamation but they still need to pay a penalty.
“In Iloilo City, all winning candidates have complied,” he said.
Among the candidates, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas spent the highest with PHP325, 999 followed by Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda with PHP318, 515.17, Atty. Joe III Espinosa, who lost to Baronda, with PHP272, 970, and Councilor Candice Magdalane Tupas with PHP256, 870.
The candidate with the lowest spending during the election was congressional bet Rudy Bantolo with only PHP800.00. (PNA)
