The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday said that only eight of 66 senatorial candidates have submitted their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs), just five days before the deadline.
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia identified the eight candidates as Victor Rodriguez, Norberto Gonzales, Dr. Willie Ong, Senator-elect Vicente Sotto III, Angelo de Alisan, Philipp Salvador, as well as France Castro and Ronaldo Jerome Adonis of the Makabayan Coalition.
There were also 11 party-list organizations who filed their SOCEs namely Abono, Abante Pangasinan-Ilokano, 1-Pacman, Manila Teachers, Angat, ACT Teachers, Nanay, Buhay, Kabayan, Akay ni Sol and Bida Katagumpay.
Three political parties, meanwhile, likewise submitted their SOCEs: Ang Katipunan Para sa Pag-Angat at Pagyabong ng Bayan (AKAY), Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP), and Bigkis Pinoy Movement.
All candidates, political parties, and party-list groups are required to file their SOCEs 30 days after elections, or until June 11.
Comelec said the submission of SOCE may be done every day including Saturdays and holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It emphasized that SOCEs filed beyond the deadline shall not be accepted.
The poll body said there will be no deadline extension and failure to submit SOCEs can lead to administrative charges or permanent disqualification.
Submissions are accepted on weekdays and Saturdays, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All SOCEs must be submitted in the required number of hard copies, accompanied by a soft or electronic copy in both PDF and Excel formats.
Submissions via registered mail, electronic mail, courier or messenger services are not permitted.