Few candidates have sent in expense reports

CEBU CITY — With less than two weeks left before the June 13 deadline, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Cebu province has expressed concern over the low turnout of candidates submitting their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

As of May 30, only around 92 out of more than 1,265 candidates who filed certificates of candidacy for the 2025 elections have complied.

Cebu provincial election officer Marchel Sarno explained that filing the SOCE is a mandatory post-election requirement for all candidates, whether they won or lost.

LOW SOCE COMPLIANCE RATE Cebu provincial election officer Marchel Sarno discusses the low compliance rate of candidates in filing their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures during an interview at his office on May 30, 2025. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES

Sarno, in an interview at his office on May 30, said that the filing of SOCE is a legal obligation and that failure to comply carries corresponding penalties.

Sarno noted that after every election, it is usually the losing candidates who fail to file their SOCE, saying many are either uninterested or unwilling to comply.

He added that while winning candidates tend to file more urgently since it's required for them to assume office, the number of submissions remains very low.

Under Section 14 of Republic Act 7166, all candidates and political parties are required to file a full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures within 30 days after the election.

Winning candidates who fail to submit their SOCE are barred from assuming office until compliance.

If the SOCE is not filed within six months from proclamation, the elected position is considered permanently vacant. For losing candidates, the deadline is final and non-extendible.

Failure to file the SOCE constitutes an administrative offense, with fines ranging from P1,000 to P30,000 for the first offense. A second offense may lead to perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia has called on the public to examine the SOCEs of candidates, which will be made accessible to the public.

Garcia emphasized the importance of public access to the SOCEs to verify the accuracy of reported campaign expenses and donations.

Comelec Cebu, meanwhile, continues to urge all candidates to promptly fulfill their post-election obligations.

Candidates are reminded to file their SOCEs at the Comelec offices where they submitted their certificates of candidacy during office hours, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.