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Source: www.rappler.com
In a press conference, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr said these officials either failed to submit their Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE), did not personally sign the SOCE, or did not use the prescribed SOCE form.
Among those that have been asked to step down are Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Muntinlupa Representative Rodolfo Biazon, Batangas Governor Vilma Santos, Pasay City Mayor Tony Calixto, and Pangasinan Governor Amado Espino.
"We are just complying with the law," said Brillantes.
"Alam na naman nila ito, pero hindi naman sila sumusunod," added Brilantes. (They are aware of this, but they do not follow the law.)
In defense of Vilma
In a statement, Senator Ralph Recto defended his wife and Governor Vilma Santos, saying that the Batangas Comelec officer was "shocked and surprised" by the Comelec order. Recto said the Batangas governor filed her SOCE on June 6, earlier than the deadline, using the Comelec prescribed form. "We followed all laws, rules and regulations," he said.
Recto also said they have a "certificate of compliance dated June 6 from Comelec Batangas that we complied."
Recto said they reviewed "just now all the documents we filed and we do not see any mistakes." If there were mistakes spotted, the Comelec should have informed them, Recto argued, so that they could have rectified any error, "if there’s any."
In addition, there are 39 candidates from the Nacionalista Party, 31 from the Nationalist People's Coalition, 29 from the opposition United Nationalist Alliance, and 17 from Lakas-CMD. 33 of the violators were independent candidates.
The order has been sent to the House of Representatives and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for implementation.
According to Republic Act 7166, all candidates, winning or losing, have to submit their Statement of Election Contributions and Expenses 30 days after the polls. Section 14 states that, "No person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein required."
Once they comply with the proper filing of SOCEs, they will be reinstated to their respective offices.
The composition of non-compliant elected officials are as follows:
4 governors
1 vice governor
12 provincial board members
20 House representatives
26 city and municipal vice mayors
35 city and municipal vice governors
324 city and municipal councilors
PCIJ's report listed 1 assemblyman from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who was not included in the Comelec's breakdown.
Comelec wants the 422 to step down on their post, are they creaking crazy?! Who will man the towns, provinces?
ReplyDeleteWala rin naman sila kuwenta so baka no noticeable effect.
Deletesimple lang yan.. papalitan ng PNoy administration ng kaalyado nila ang mga tatangalin.. ang malaking tanong ay bakit nasama si Ate Vi sa gusto nilang palitan? yun na! pak!
DeleteThe COMELEC Chairman said that their posts shall remain vacant until such time that the concerned officials have submitted or completed their SOCEs.
DeleteNAKAKAHIYA. simpleng papel hindi magawa! sila pa ang hindi sumusunod!
Deletesana kasama mayor namin. lol
ReplyDeleteSila rin naman gumawa ng batas na yan. Either sundin nila o amyendahan.
ReplyDeleteAnyare sa hanash nila kay Gov. ER? Waley!
ReplyDeleteBaka sakaling maayos na uli ang batangas.
ReplyDeleteHindi magugunaw ang mundo dhil sa mga kalamidad..magugunaw ito dhil sa mga nangyayari sa gobyerno at ahensya,at magsisimula ito sa pinas.! lol
ReplyDeleteOh Well. Baka naman kasi di talaga sila nag submit ng SOCE. Di naman siguro mag fifile ang Comelec kung walang Basehan. Like what BIR did sa Tax Case ni Pacman. and Look. Tama naman pala ang BIR na hindi talaga nagbabayad si Pacman ng Tamang Tax..
ReplyDeletesee. Ngayon na kumilos ang comelec kokontrahin naman keso pinupulitika. Ang batas ay batas no one is above the law dapat. For sure naman hindi bababa sa pwesto mga yan!
ReplyDeleteComelec shud b 200% sure na d tlga sila ngpasa or else bka mgbackfire sa knila yan. Gov vilma santos said she already filed b4 deadline pa nga. Tapos me cert from comelec pa to back it up.
ReplyDeleteNo offense pero Philippines Government is a big JOKE!!! Same goes to all these so-called politicians. I do want to believe that there is hope in this country but... i could only wish!
ReplyDeletepinapababa sila sa pwesto pero nabalita sa ABiaS na katumbas din na multa na pwede namang bayaran; hay nako
ReplyDeleteasa pa,eh parang linta mga yan, ang mga politician dapat ang natamaan ng yolanda
ReplyDeleteSeriously, ganyan talaga kadami hindi nagpasa ng SOCE? Baka mamaya niyan, 70% pala dahil lang sa negligence ng COMELEC ha! COMELEC, please double, triple, quadruple check!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is from batangas and totoo naman na c si vilma!
ReplyDeletei concur.. in fact dumadami ang naghihikahos sa Batangas! hindi lang halata kasi nature ng mga taga-batangas ang pagiging jolly at festive! but majority in this province ay malnourished mapa-bata man or matanda!
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