COMELEC Commissioner Lucenito Tagle.
MANILA, Philippines — Former Commission on Elections Commissioner Lucenito Tagle is in favor of still allowing candidates and political parties to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures or SOCE even if the deadline for it has already expired.
This, in light of the repercussion that a winning candidate cannot assume office if he or she or if his or her party fails to submit SOCE.
“These candidates have already won the elections and yet we will deny them assumption of office because they failed to submit their SOCE.”
However, Tagle insists that late filers should pay the necessary fines.
It can be recalled that COMELEC Chairman Andres Bautista is also amenable to the idea.
Also, former COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. has the same outlook on the issue.
Brillantes said, the poll body cannot legally extend the 30-day period after elections for filing of SOCE but Congress can do so by amending the law.
The former poll chief stressed that what the commission can legally do is to accept late submissions and charging corresponding fines.
However, Tagle insists that the present administrative penalty is already obsolete and must be raised to atleast 100,000 to 200,000 pesos.
R.A. No. 7166 provides that first time offenders will be fined 1,000 to 30,000 pesos.
While those who have failed to submit SOCE twice or more will be fined 2,000 to 60,000 pesos and will also face the posibility of being perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
(VICTOR COSARE/UNTV NEWS)
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