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Rhodina Villanueva - The Philippine Star
June 6, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Six days before the deadline, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said only seven of 66 senatorial candidates have filed their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) in relation to the May 12 midterm elections.
The Comelec said as of yesterday, only senatorial bets Victor Rodriguez, Norberto Gonzales, Dr. Willie Ong, France Castro of Makabayan bloc, Senator-elect Vicente Sotto III, Angelo de Alisan and Ronaldo Jerome Adonis, also of the Makabayan Coalition, have filed their SOCEs. Only Sotto emerged as winner among them, while Ong withdrew.
There were nine who filed their SOCEs for party-list organizations: Abono, Abante Pangasinan-Ilokano, 1-Pacman, Manila Teachers, Angat, ACT Teachers, Nanay, Buhay and Kabayan.
As to political parties, only Akay and Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas filed their SOCEs.
All candidates, political parties, and party-list groups are required to file their SOCEs 30 days after elections, or until June 11.
The Comelec said the submission of SOCE may be done every day including Saturdays and holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It stressed that SOCE filed beyond the deadline shall not be accepted.
The poll body also said that submission via registered mail, electronic mail, courier, or messenger services is not allowed.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia, meanwhile, said a show cause order against Duterte Youth party-list first nominee Drixie Mae Cardema to make her explain allegations she did not use her real surname in her election documents.
The Comelec said Cardema should explain allegations that “Cardema” is not her true surname.
“On social media, she is being accused of using a different family name. We just want to know the truth,” Garcia said in an interview.
“The first nominee of Duterte Youth should expect a show cause order anytime because of the allegations of using a different family name,” said Garcia.
Cardema allegedly misdeclared her surname in her Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination as the first nominee of the Duterte Youth party-list. She identified herself in the document as “Drixie Mae Suarez Cardema.”
The Comelec chief said they are giving Cardema the chance to dispute allegations thrown at her.
Garcia also said the issue concerning Cardema will not affect the pending disqualification cases filed against the party-list group.
Drixie is known as the sister of Ducielle Cardema and sister-in-law of Duterte Youth chairman Ronald Cardema.
Meanwhile, the Comelec also said the Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list can now be proclaimed as a winner in the last elections.
The poll has issued a Certificate of Finality and Entry of Judgment regarding the junking of the petition for disqualification filed against BH party-list.
The Comelec First Division earlier dismissed the petition to disqualify the BH party-list in the May 12 polls filed by lawyer Russel Geronimo.
The First Division had said the petitioner failed to comply with the mandatory requirements such as furnishing a copy of the petition to the respondent through personal service, and attaching a copy of the Certificate of Nomination-Certificate of Acceptance of Nomination.
According to the Comelec convened as a whole, the First Division was correct in insisting on the importance of complying with mandatory requirements set in the rules.
Garcia said the BH party-list may be proclaimed next week.
“Expect the National Board of Canvassers to proclaim BH party-list any moment from now. There is a possibility that the proclamation may happen early next week,” Garcia said in an interview.
The BH party-list is entitled to one seat in the House of Representatives after getting 319,803 votes in the midterm polls.
