Update (7:35 p.m.)
MANILA, Philippines — Of the five senators-elect who have already submitted their expense reports so far, Christopher “Bong” Go spent the most in the midterm elections.
According to Go’s statement of contributions and expenses (Soce), the former Presidential aide spent a total of P161,418,299.31.
A huge chunk of the said figure came from cash contributions with a total of P154,005,261.97
READ: 5 senators-elect submit expense reports so far
Go placed third in the senatorial race.
He also received the highest contribution. His Soce showed that he received a total of P162,035,537.34. Cash contributions received from “other sources” amounted to P155,038,000 while in-kind contributions were worth P6,997,537.34
Go’s political party PDP-Laban did not contribute to his campaign fund, whether in cash or in kind.
LOOK: Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Senator-elect Bong Go @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/FEkYK6l3ty
— Faye Orellana (@FMOrellanaINQ) June 13, 2019
The next top spender is re-electionist Senator Grace Poe, who spent a total of P156,433,463.80, all from cash contributions.
Based on the Senator’s Soce, she received a total of P156,450,000 in cash from various sources. She did not receive contributions in-kind.
Poe placed second in the midterm polls.
LOOK: Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Senator-elect Grace Poe @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/n0j7UCB0xw
— Faye Orellana (@FMOrellanaINQ) June 13, 2019
Re-electionist Senator Cynthia Villar, on the other hand, went all out in her campaign expenses in this year’s polls. Her Soce showed that she spent a total of P135,529,061.09 all from personal funds and resources.
She topped the senatorial race in the May polls.
LOOK: Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Senator-elect Cynthia Villar @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/TReitNPHLj
— Faye Orellana (@FMOrellanaINQ) June 13, 2019
Meanwhile, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano is the fourth top election spender with expenditures amounting to P73,714,198.55. The majority of the her expenses came from cash contributions totalling P65,355,010.16
The contributions were from sources and not from her political party, the Nacionalista party. This contribution amounted to P75,200,000,00
LOOK: Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Senator-elect Pia Cayetano @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/W2vAGHsrIO
— Faye Orellana (@FMOrellanaINQ) June 13, 2019
Senator-elect Nancy Binay, who placed 12th place in the elections, had incurred the lowest expenses. Her Soce showed that her expenses amounting to P56,785,472.82 were all mostly from cash contributions. She received a total of P59,470,000 in cash from contributions an other sources.
LOOK: Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of Senator-elect Nancy Binay @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/PBpY37dAG0
— Faye Orellana (@FMOrellanaINQ) June 13, 2019
Go, Poe, Villar, Cayetano, and Binay are so far the senators-elect who have filed their Soces before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as of this writing.
According to Campaign Finance Office Head, lawyer Efraim Bag-id, the winners in the midterm polls may file their Soces up to six months from the date of their proclamation.
As for the losing bets, they only have until 8 p.m.todday, June 13, to submit their expense reports.
Failure to submit Soces on time is punishable by an administrative fine that ranges from P6,000 to P10,000, depending on the position sought by the candidate in the elections.
Bag-id said failure to submit the Soce for two consecutive elections is a ground for perpetual disqualification of the from elections. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)
READ: Comelec to losing bets: No extension of deadline for Soces filing