The Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned winning candidates
on Friday (May 24) that they cannot assume office without submitting their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) on or before June 13.
“Under the law, all candidates and political parties are required to submit their SOCE within 30 days after the elections. However, considering that the last day of filing of SOCE is June 12 which is a holiday, the Philippine Independence Day, SOCE can still be submitted the following day, the 13th of June, 2019,” Jimenez said.
Based on the Omnibus Election Code provision, “no person elected to any public office should enter upon the duties of his or her office until he/she has filed the SOCE herein required to be submitted to Comelec within 30 days since the election day.”
This also applies to candidates who were not able to secure a seat in government office.
Candidates who fail to submit their SOCE will face administrative sanctions.
“The submission of the SOCE by mail, courier or any other messenger services will not be accepted, while failure to file the SOCE will result in administrative sanction against the candidates and political parties,” Jimenez said.
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