Amid failure to file Soce, some candidates still running in May polls — Guanzon

MANILA, Philippines — Without naming names, Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon slammed on Wednesday candidates who have failed to submit their campaign expense reports.

“They’re still running. I don’t get it,” Guanzon said in an interview.

“They expect maybe a protracted battle so that in the end, the Comelec gives up? Hindi naman maganda ‘yun sa demokrasya natin (It’s not good for our democracy),” she added.

Failure to submit their statements of contributions and expenses (Soce) for two consecutive occasions is a ground for perpetual disqualification.

READ: Candidates told: Win or lose, file your Soce

In 2018, the Commission on Election filed a disqualification case against senatorial bet Sergio Osmeña III after he allegedly failed to submit his Soce in 2010 and 2016.

Osmeña, however, he said that the Comelec has no reason to disqualify him as he filed his campaign expenses in 2010.

“I have filed my SOCE for the 2010 national elections. It was a late filing and I paid the administrative fine for it. On that basis alone, there should have been no reason for the CFO (Camp Finance Office) to seek my disqualification,” Osmeña said. /ee

READ: Serge Osmeña: No reason for Comelec to seek my disqualification