Roxas top spender among opposition Senate bets

MANILA, Philippines — Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas spent the most among his fellow candidates from the opposition slate during his campaign for the Senate in the midterm elections, his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) showed.

According to his SOCE, Roxas spent P179,193,153 during his campaign.

The amount was sourced from P167,050,000 in contributions and P12,143,153 from Roxas’ personal funds.

LOOK: Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) of former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas | @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/xbMuOMDBmY

— Christia Ramos (@christiaramos_) June 14, 2019

Roxas ranked 16th in the Senate race with 9,843,288 votes.

Of the eight candidates from the opposition slate, only five SOCEs have so far been furnished to the media as of writing.

Of the five who have furnished their SOCEs, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay spent the least for his campaign at P2,974,386, which was sourced from P2,792,508 in cash and in-kind contributions and P181,878 from his personal funds.

Former Speaker Erin Tañada spent P21,299,841 for his campaign. The amount was sourced from cash contributions amounting to P17,000,000 and P4,299,841 from personal funds.

Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno, meanwhile, spent P26,333,261 for his Senate bid which came from P26,147,715 in and in-kind contributions and P185,546 from personal funds.

Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal spent P8,541,839 sourced from personal funds for his election campaign.

The deadline for the submission of SOCEs was set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on June 13 at 8 p.m.

Failure to submit SOCEs in 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, the Comelec said. (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)