Candidates told: Win or lose, file your Soce

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

Win or lose, candidates for the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections should still file their statements of contributions and expenditures (Soce).

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday reminded candidates that the filing of the candidates’ Soce is not later than June 13, 2018.

Candidates who fail to submit their Soce before the deadline may face sanction of being “perpetually disqualified to hold public office,” the Comelec warned.

“We have always said that the barangay is where the public directly experience our government,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said in a statement.

“Therefore, our frontline public officials must be sterling exemplars of upright, law-abiding citizens to the public whom they pledge to serve,” he stressed.

Jimenez cited Section 14 of Republic Act 7166, which states that winning candidates who fail to file their Soce would be prohibited from holding public office until he or she complies with the requirement.

“Further, the commission of a second or subsequent failure to file the Soce subjects the offender to perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” the Comelec spokesperson said, quoting the law. /jpv