Comelec Request for Solons to Leave Posts ‘OA’- Belmonte

The Comission on Elections (Comelec) was “over-acting” when it issued an order for some 400 officials, including 20 congressmen, to vacate their seats for failure to file their Statements of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs), according to House Speaker Sonny Belmonte Jr.

Belmonte told reporters that he has checked the complaints and all dwells on technicalities.

“Well, I think the Comelec is over-acting, I’ve checked it and all complaints were merely on technicalities,”

On Thursday, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. together with Commissioner Robert Lim in a press briefing at the Comelec office in Manila, shows to the media the lists of candidates who won in the May 2013 polls but failed to submit their SOCEs, Gma News Online reported.

In the press briefing, Brillantes named Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, Laguna Gov. E. R. Ejercito, Pangasinan Gov. Amado Espino, and Ilocos Sur Gov. Ryan Luis Singson, the son of Ilocos kingpin Chavit Singson, as some of the 422 officials who failed to present their SOCE for more than six months after the elections.

Belmonte said the Comelec may have their files wrong as the affected members have told him that they filed their SOCEs, Gma News Online report said.

The House speaker said of the 20 congressmen being ordered to vacate their office, “only three were reported to not have filed appropriate Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE)” while the rest either did not sign the forms personally or used a wrong form. Belmonte has identified Rep. Sal Fortuno and Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David as among the three who have yet to file their SOCEs.

The Speaker also said that he will not evict the House members indicated by the Comelec, but that he will give them until Monday to put their affairs in order.

“By Monday, for instance, when we have a session, I’m 100 percent sure na by that time, all 20 of them have fully complied with it because if they don’t comply by that time, papakita ko sa kanila ang lugar nila. Pero [until Monday] is a reasonable time to comply,” Belmonte said adding he believes the word of his fellow lawmakers that they have filed their SOCEs.

“If their claims are true, that means to say that we have a problem in the record-keeping of Comelec,” he said. Belmonte also revealed that he will support any measure that seeks to increase the limit on campaign expenses of candidates.

“I think one of the laws that we ought to be passing here is an updating of that law. The limits are so ridiculous that it’s very hard to believe that that is all people are spending,” Belmonte said.

The list of solons who reportedly did not file their correct SOCEs includes former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Muntinlupa City Representative Rodolfo Biazon.

Other solons who are also on the list are:

San Jose Del Monte City Rep. Arthur Robes;
Batangas (3rd District) Rep. Nelson Collantes;
Antipolo City (2nd District) Rep. Romeo Acop;
Camarines Sur (5th District) Rep. Sal Fortuno;
North Cotabato (2nd District) Rep. Nancy Catamco; and
Lanao del Sur (2nd District) Rep. Pangalian Balindong.

Also ordered to vacate their House seats are:

Manila (3rd District) Rep. Naida Angping;
Manila (4th District) Rep. Trisha Bonoan-David;
Ilocos Sur (1stDistrict) Rep. Ronald Singson;
Bataan (2nd District) Rep. Tet Garcia;
Bulacan (1st District) Rep. Ma. Victoria Sy-Alvarado;
Batangas (1st District) Rep. Eileen Ermita-Buhain;
Batangas (4th District) Rep. Dong Mendoza;
Quezon (1stDistrict) Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga;
Rizal (1st District) Rep. Joel Roy Duavit;
Albay (2nd District) Rep. Al Francis Bichara;
Misamis Occidental (2nd District) Henry Oaminal; and
Sultan Kudarat (2nd District) Rep. Arnulfo Go.
Four governors and 26 mayors elected in May 2013 are also affected by the Comelec en banc ruling.
Under Republic Act 7166, also known as the Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms Act, only presidential and vice presidential candidates are allowed to spend P10 per voter, while other candidates with political parties may spend P5 per voter. An independent candidate can only spend P3 per voter.

Source: Gma News Online