De Lima questions DILG over local execs’ poll expenditure case

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila De Lima questioned the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s non-compliance to an agreement with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that they will not allow a local official to assume office sans submission of Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

In a memorandum dated March 14, 2012 between the DILG and Comelec, before assuming his or her post, the DILG must require a winning candidate for local position to present a certification from Comelec that he/she has complied with all his obligations under Republic Act 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms.

Failure to submit the certification to DILG means the winning candidate will not be allowed to assume office.

However, Comelec recently said that over 400 local executives who have assumed office should leave for failure to comply with the submission of SOCE, Comelec said.

The election body has asked the DILG and the Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to help them in ordering local officials to vacate their posts.

“We need to know why there was no compliance with the memorandum of agreement,” De Lima told reporters Tuesday.

She pointed that the Comelec cannot just ask the DILG, the Speaker or the Senate President for help because the elected officials are already sworn in and holding office.

“It’s not as easy as that,” she said.

“These local officials have already assumed office and have started serving their constituents. They can only be removed [through] proper proceedings,” De Lima said noting that it is important to allow the officials to answer the Comelec’s allegation.

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