Only 17 out of the 66 national candidates attended the signing of the Truthful, Responsible, Upright, Transparent, & Honest (TRUTH) covenant spearheaded by the Archdiocese of Manila and its radio network, Radio Veritas, on Monday (May 2, 2016). According to Fr. Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas president, they have sent invitations to each of the candidates running for the presidential, vice presidential and senatorial seats but many of them were not available as they were in their respective campaign sorties. Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II signing the peace covenant for the May 9 elections at the Manila Cathedral. (PNA photos by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA, June 22 (Mabuhay) – Defeated presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II finally submitted his statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce) on Wednesday–exactly on the last day of the extended deadline after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) granted his request.
The Liberal Party standard-bearer’s spokesperson and Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez and the party’s counsel Romulo Macalintal filed the campaign expenses report on his behalf at the Comelec office in Manila.
In his expenditure report, it showed that Roxas spent P487 million in poll expenditures and received P469 million in contributions.
Explaining the reason behind the delay, Gutierrez earlier said they had to go through “voluminous number of receipts” that have to be scanned and attached to the documents.
Gutierrez said Roxas wanted to give an accurate and truthful report “in compliance with the rules and in the interest of complete transparency.”
After failing to submit SOCEs last June 8, Roxas and LP asked for a 14-day extension from the Comelec.
The Comelec en banc’s decision to extend the deadline drew flak, accusing the poll body of giving special treatment to Roxas and LP.
The decision also made Commissioner Christopher Lim resign as the Comelec’s campaign finance office head because the “policy shift” was unacceptable for him.
Roxas was the last among the presidential candidates to submit his SOCE.
Roxas was the second highest spender. Senator Grace Poe spent the most for her campaign. Poe spent P510,845,262.56 and received P511,950,000 from campaign donors.
Vice President Jejomar Binay spent P463,375,216.37 while he received P463,453,000 from contributors.
President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, meanwhile, declared P371,461,480.23 in poll expenditures from the P375,009,474.90 contributions he received.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago spent P74,652,689.87 and received the lowest amount of contribution. (MNS)