THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that it is looking at posting the statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs) of candidates, party-list groups, and political parties online for public scrutiny.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the SOCE can be posted online within two weeks because the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) needs approval for the vulnerability assessment.
According to Garcia, if the public finds that the SOCE the groups submitted contains errors or deficiencies, they should inform the poll body’s Political and Financial Affairs Department (formerly the Campaign Finance Office) so that it can be immediately studied and investigated.
Candidates, party-lists and political parties participating in the May 12 midterm elections only have until June 11 to submit their SOCEs.
Based on the latest Comelec data, out of the 64 senatorial candidates, 28 political parties and 154 party-list groups that participated in the May 12 elections, 25 senatorial candidates, 10 political parties, and 64 party-list groups have already filed their SOCEs.
Garcia said that failure to submit a SOCE for two consecutive elections will result in the candidate’s perpetual disqualification from holding office.
Aside from administrative charges, those who fail to file their SOCE will also face criminal charges, Garcia added.