Senators-elect fined for incomplete election expense declarations

Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections decided Thursday to fine 11 of the 12 winners in the 2013 senatorial  elections for “deficiencies” in the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures or SOCEs they submitted to the election body.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said the commission decided to “adopt in toto” the recommendations of the Comelec Campaign Finance Steering Committee to fine the senators-elect or withhold their certificate of compliance.

Brillantes urged the lawmakers to address the “deficiencies” by June 29 so that they can assume office.

“We have adopted the recommendations of (steering committee chairman) Commissioner (Christian Robert) Lim which means we will be very strict in implementation,” Brillantes said in an interview. “They need to comply or complete their (SOCEs) on or before June 29 (or) we will also notify the Senate and the House of Representatives that they did not comply. We will leave it up to them to decide on what to do.”

Under the Synchronized National and Local Elections Law, no person elected to “any public offices shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures required.”

“We cannot dictate (on the Senate and the House) on what to do. We will no longer say it and just cite what the law provides… that they cannot assume (office),” Brillantes said.

He noted that Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s SOCE had no deficiency but his political party, the Nacionalista Party, has yet to submit some documents.

The Comelec campaign finance committee recommended that Cayetano not be issued a certificate of compliance until the NP submits the documents.

So actually, no one has completely submitted the required documents, Brillantes said.

In his memo dated June 17, Commissioner Lim recommended that all of the newly-elected senators, except for Alan Peter Cayetano, should be fined for the deficiencies. He recommended that Cayetano not be issued a certificate of compliance until the NP submits the documents.

In his memo, Lim said Juan Edgardo Angara and Antonio Trillanes IV should be fined P1,000 a day until they submit the TIN (tax information number) of their listed contributors and copies of their donors’ receipts.

“Even if he complies, Mr. Angara cannot assume office until (his political party, the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) submits its SOCE,” Lim said.

He said Bam Aquino, President’s Aquino cousin, should be fined P4,000 because he resubmitted his personally signed SOCE on June 17 or four days after the deadline.

Lim said Senator-elect Nancy Binay did not submit copies of the receipts or invoices of the campaign expenses she listed.

“Impose a late fine of P1,000 per day until Ms. Binay submits copies and receipts or invoices of the expenses she incurred for her campaign,” Lim said.

Lim also recommended that JV Ejercito and Chiz Escudero be fined P1,000 per day until they submit copies of the receipts they issued to their donors and contributors.

Lim said re-elected Senators Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan Loren Legarda also did not attach copies of the receipts to their contributors and invoices for expenses incurred and should be fined P1,000 a day until they comply.

The SOCEs of Aquiliono “Koko” Pimentel III and Cynthia Villar were deemed “not filed” because they were not personally signed. Lim also recommended that they be fined P1,000 a day for failing to submit the receipts they gave to their contributors and donors.

Grace Poe, who topped the senatorial elections, re-submitted her  signed SOCE on June 17 but she did not attach copies of the receipts and invoices of expenses incurred and contributions received. Lim said Poe should be filed P1,000 a day until she complies.

Among those who did not win, former Senator Ramon Magsaysay Jr., former Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros, businessman Ricardo Penson, and lawyer Samson Alcantara filed complete SOCEs.

However, Lim said, Hontiveros should be fined P2,000 for filing her SOCE two days after the deadline on June 13.

Brillantes said the Comelec would also determine if the candidates were truthful in the declarations that they made. Those who lied could face perjury charges and get kicked out of office if found guilty and this verdict is affirmed by the Supreme Court.