Duterte’s PDP-Laban asks SC to void resolution extending SOCE deadline

The political party of President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to nullify the resolution of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that extended the deadline for the submission of Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) to accommodate the request of former President Benigno Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP).

In a 22-page petition for certiorari, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) through its Secretary-General, Davao del Norte 1st District Representative and incoming Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said the Comelec gravely abused its discretion when it extended the submission of SOCE from June 8 to June 30.

PDP-Laban said Comelec Resolution No. 10147 violated Republic Act 7166 or the Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms particularly Section 14 which specifically provided that every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall submit the SOCE within 30 days after the election.

The petitioners said that the deadline under the law is mandatory and non-extendible.

By extending the deadline, petitioners said Comelec has exceeded its rule-making power and usurped the duty of Congress by amending the law.

“A reading of Section 14 of RA No. 7166 would easily reveal that there is no delegated authority from Congress for Comelec en banc to fix the period to file SOCEs,” the petition read.

PDP-Laban also cited the dissenting opinion of Comelec Commissioner Christian Robert Lim saying that the extension was an “accommodation in favor of the Liberal Party (LP).”

The LP failed to meet the June 8 deadline to file their SOCE. It filed a motion with the Comelec to extend the deadline to comply with the requirement.

“This is wrong. Comelec en banc should not tolerate much less accommodate the whims and caprices of the LP. As a regulatory body, Comelec en banc’s primordial consideration is to implement the mandate of the law…This Honorable Supreme Court should not sanction this nefarious act of public respondent Comelec,” the petition read.

An earlier petition assailing the extension of the deadline for filing of SOCEs, filed by 1-Abilidad party-list, was dismissed by the high court due to mere technicalities. A motion for reconsideration has been filed before the high court.

READ: SC asked to reverse dismissal of case vs SOCE deadline extension

Last June 16, voting 4-3, the Comelec moved to June 30 the supposed June 8 deadline for filing SOCE.

Commissioners Arthur Lim, Al Parreño, Sheriff Abas and Rowena Guanzon voted for the granting of extension, while Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista and Commissioners Christian Robert Lim and Luie Guia voted to deny the request. RAM

READ: Comelec en banc votes to accept LP’s late SOCE