FILE PHOTO: COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon.
MANILA, Philippines — COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon has asserted that the law does not prohibit extension for the submission of Statement of Contributions and Expenditures or SOCE.
In fact, Guanzon says the commission has done it during the 2010 and 2013 elections.
Guanzon adds that the poll body has not favored anyone in its decision to extend the deadline for the submission of Contributions and Expenditures report because it would certainly benefit all election candidates.
She says the commission has to relax its rules so as not to overpower the will of the people who elected the leaders in the government.
One of Guanzon’s considerations why she favored the extension is the numebr of winning candidates who cannot assume office because they failed or their parties failed to submit their SOCE in time for the deadline on June 8.
Guanzon defended some candidates who failed the deadline because of problems in some of the requirements for submission of their respective SOCE.
Under Liberal Party, a total of 5 senators, 115 congressmen, 40 governors and even Vice President-elect Leni Robredo might not assume office if they fail to submit SOCE and if the poll body will not consider and accept the party’s SOCE.
The Aksyon Demokratiko and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino also failed to submit their respective SOCE.
“The decision is for all affected parties,” explained COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez.
“Forty governors are affected. That’s 40 provinces. That’s like almost half of the total number of provinces. Their assumption will be delayed because of that. That’s not an insignificant effect and it really doesn’t matter what party you are in,” he added.
Guanzon adds that in the past, they have given consideration to United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) even if they have submitted late CONA signatures.
If the poll body refused to accept the documents, UNA candidates could have ran independently and not under one umbrella.
The poll body says it is ready to defend should the Supreme Court questions its position.
“In fact, even before the decision came out, people were already saying that whatever we decided someone is bound to take it up with the Supreme Court. Because that’s the nature of COMELEC decisions,” Jimenez told reporters.
COMELEC has yet to issue a copy of the resolution regarding the extension of the SOCE filing.
(VICTOR COSARE/UNTV NEWS)
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