Comelec slaps most candidates with penalties

MANILA - Most of the 33 senatorial candidates in the 2013 midterm elections filed incorrect statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs), a requirement of the Commission on Elections 30 days after each election.

This was the finding of the Comelec's campaign finance unit, which has started a review of the SOCEs filed with the poll body.

The same unit has recommended the imposition of fines and penalties which are still up for deliberation by the commission en banc.

Of the 12 winning senators, only Alan Peter Cayetano was not found to have any deficiencies in his SOCE. However his certificate of compliance has been withheld pending the submission of his party, the Nacionalista Party, of documents the Comelec requires.

Sonny Angara 's party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino, has not filed its SOCE, while his own SOCE does not have the TIN of some contributors. Angara also failed to submit the receipts of some of his contributors.

The campaign finance unit recommends a late fine of P1000 per day till Angara complies and that he not be allowed to assume office till his LDP party submits its SOCE.

Bam Aquino, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar did not personally sign their SOCEs. Aquino resubmitted a SOCE on June 17 for which he will be imposed a late fine of P4000.

Pimentel, Poe and Villar also did not attach copies of receipts issued to donors. They will be fined P1000 a day till they comply.

Nancy Binay did not submit a copy of receipts or invoices of expenses. The campaign finance unit recommends a late fine of P1000 per day till Binay complies.

JV Ejercito's camp claims he submitted via registered mail. The personally served SOCE on June 14, however, did not have the copies of the receipts he issued to donors. A P1000 per day fine has been recommended till he complies.

Francis Escudero filed after the deadline and did not attach copies of receipts he issued to donors. They will also be fined P1000 a day till they comply.

Gringo Honasan and Loren Legarda also did not attach copies of the receipts they issued. A P1000 fine has also been recommended per day till they comply.

Antonio Trillanes did not have the TIN of some contributors and did not submit copies of receipts issued to donors. A P1000 fine has also been recommended per day till he complies.

Of the non-winners, only Samson Alcantara, Teddy Casiño, Risa Hontiveros, Jun Magsaysay and Ricardo Penson did not have problems with their SOCEs. However hontiveros will be fined P2000 because she filed late on June 15.

Comelec has yet to receive the SOCEs of Rizalito David, Edward Hagedorn and Marwil Llasos.

The SOCE of Ang Kapatiran, the party of JC delos Reyes, has not been submitted.

Jack Enrile did not sign his SOCE and did not attach copies of receipts issued to donors.

Greco Belgica, Tingting Cojuangco, Richard Gordon, Ernesto Maceda, Mitos Magsaysay, Jamby Madrigal and Christian Señeres did not submit copies of receipts issued to donors.

Ramon Montano only listed anonymous donors and also did not submit copies of receipts.

Eddie Villanueva did not use the prescribed form. Juan Miguel Zubiri's donors did not submit their TINs.

Among the political parties who fielded senatorial candidates, 4 parties--- Ang Kapatiran , the Democratic Party of the Philippines, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Makabayan did not file SOCEs. Bangon Pilipinas, the party backing Eddie Villanueva, did not submit a copy of receipts issued to donors and there was no TIN for some donors.

The Liberal Party, Nacionalista Party, the Nationalist People's Coalition and United Nationalist Alliance did not attach receipts issued to donors.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said those SOCEs filed with deficiencies are considered to be "not filed" at all with the poll body.

"Initially, mukhang wala masyado nagsubmit ng tama. Puro mali, karamihan mali. Puro complete meron kami rule has to be complete to be considered filed andito na sa recommendation," he said.

Brillantes said that if they are going to be very strict, those with deficiencies cannot assume office unless they comply by June 30. However, if they are going to be liberal, the candidates can just make the necessary corrections.

So far, the poll body has gone through the SOCEs of the senatorial candidates. Comelec will be reviewing the SOCEs of local candidates as well.

Brillantes believes the errors were because the candidates did not read the rules well.

"That's why were coming out with it para malaman na nila depekto ng mag submit na kulang ni-notify namin sila publicly through you. Magpapadala kami ng notice individually," he said.