92 bets face perpetual disqualification

Ninety-two more candidates, including some eyeing national posts in the May 2016 elections, are facing permanent disqualification from running for any public office for failing twice or thrice to report their campaign finances, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The Comelec’s campaign finance unit has posted on its website (www.comelec.gov.ph) the list of 92 candidates “subject to perpetual disqualification due to 2nd and 3rd failure to file SOCE” or statement of contributions and expenditures after the 2007, 2010 and 2013 polls.

Beside the names of each of the candidates are remarks “for perpetual disqualification to hold public office.”

Included on the list are Elly Pamatong and former Manila councilor Greco Belgica, who filed certificates of candidacy for the 2016 presidential and senatorial race, respectively.

The document showed that Pamatong failed to report his campaign expenses after he ran for provincial governor of Pampanga in 2007, and for Davao City congressman in 2013.

Belgica, on the other hand, failed to report his campaign expenses after he ran for councilor in Manila’s 6th district in 2007 and for senator in 2013, the document showed.

The poll body said disqualification cases against the 92 candidates would be filed in the commission.

“These are still up for filing of petitions for perpetual disqualification in the Office of the Secretary of the Commission,” the Comelec said.

Majority of the candidates on the list ran for city, municipal, provincial and congressional positions in previous elections.

In October, the Comelec also released the names of more than 780 candidates who failed to report their campaign finances.

In a previous interview, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said those who filed certificates of candidacy for the 2016 elections but whose names appeared on the list may be disqualified due to their repeated failure to comply with the financial reporting requirement.

“If they are on the list, they can be disqualified unless we get an order from the court [saying otherwise],” Bautista said.

Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166, or the Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Law, requires all candidates to file “full, true and itemized” statements of contributions and expenses for the election 30 days after Election Day.

First-time offenders are subject to an administrative fine of P1,000 to P30,000, to be determined by the Comelec.

Second-time offenders and subsequent offenders are subject to an administrative fine of P2,000 to P60,000, depending on the position they ran for. They also face perpetual disqualification from public office.