Comelec to fine 11 senators-elect who erred in filing expense reports

 News
Jun 202013
 

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will slap fines on 11 of the 12 senators-elect who failed to comply with the requirements regarding the filing of their statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCE).

In Minute Resolution No. 13-0775, the poll body en banc approved the memorandum of commissioner Christian Robert Lim that specified the violations of each senatorial bet in the 2013 elections, and the subsequent penalties.

Lim is the poll body’s campaign finance unit head.

Strict implementation, steep fines
 

Among the 12 senators-elect, only Alan Peter Cayetano has no deficiency in his expenditure report.

Poll chief Sixto Brillantes Jr. urged the candidates to submit their deficiencies before June 30, the start of the term for the new senators.

“We will be very strict in its implementation. Kailangang i-comply nila on or before June 29,” he said.

According to Lim’s memorandum, the penalties shall amount to “P1,000 per day (not exceeding June 29, 2013) until they have corrected the deficiency in their submissions.”

Brillantes said they would implement their memorandum of agreement with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), which prohibits local officials from assuming office without submitting their expense reports. 

Up to Senate or House to bar non-compliants
 

Meanwhile, Comelec will submit a list of complying and non-complying candidates to the Offices of the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and DILG Secretary. 

But Brillantes admitted they have no power to compel the Senate or the House to bar non-compliant officials from taking their posts.

“Hindi namin sasabihin (na huwag paupuin). Sasabihin lang namin na the law provides (the requirement). It’s really up to them whether to implement it,” he said. 

He added that a P1,000 per day late penalty is ‘very reasonable.’ 

“If they don’t file it before June 30, then the fine is P30,000,” Brillantes said.

Republic Act 7166 provides that failure to submit SOCEs is penalized with an administrative fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000 for the first offense, and from P2,000 to P60,000 for second offense, depending on the position, according to Comelec Resolution No. 9476.

Brillantes said those who failed to submit SOCEs in two elections will be disqualified from running for public office. —VC, GMA News

Comelec wants allowable poll expenses pegged on 'economic factors'

 News
Jun 102013
 
Comelec wants allowable poll expenses pegged on 'economic factors'

The allowable poll expenses limit may soon be pegged on “economic factors” such as the inflation rate and consumer price index (CPI), a Commission on Elections (Comelec) official said on Monday. This could be possible if the 16th Congress approves a bill amending the Omnibus Election Code that the Comelec would endorse, according to poll commissioner Christian Robert Lim. The poll official said the commission has proposed to form a regional tripartite body with officials from the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Trade and Industry that would determine the allowable election expense per voter. “Every elections, there would be a regional tripartite board na magde-determine using the CPI magkano [ang expense limit]. Mataas ba ang inflation kaya kailangang itaas din namin para realistic?” explained Lim. The reform aims to motivate candidates to be truthful in their statements of contributions and expenditures, he added. “More often than not, candidates are going to spend more. So more likely they would not declare. So we want them to be truthful in their declaration,” Lim said. As of now, the Comelec under its Resolution No. 9476 limits presidential and vice presidential candidates to P10 for every registered voter, candidates with political parties to P3 per voter, and independent candidates to P5 per voter. According to the National Statistics Office, the CPI measures the “changes in the price level of goods and services that most people buy for their day-to-day consumption.” Meanwhile, inflation is the change in price level over a Read More …