Ben Madilynn
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Mandaue City has issued a stern reminder to all 42 local candidates in the recently concluded elections to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce) before the legal deadline, cautioning them not to be “deadliners.”
As of Thursday, May 29, 2025, not a single candidate had successfully submitted a complete Soce, according to Election Officer II Jacquelyn Reuyan. She noted that former city councilor Jaypee Ceniza attempted to file but was asked to return after submitting incomplete documentation.
“Filing the Soce is a mandatory requirement under the law. This applies to all candidates, political parties, and party-list groups whether they received campaign contributions, spent funds, ran a self-funded campaign, or did not campaign at all,” said Reuyan.
Only those who officially withdrew their candidacy before the start of the campaign period are exempt from filing.
The Soce must be filed within 30 days after Election Day, making the deadline strictly non-extendable. For the recent polls, this falls on June 11.
Submission must be done in person at the Comelec Mandaue office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., including weekends and holidays. Candidates are required to submit both printed and digital copies (in PDF and Excel format) stored on an external device. The document must also bear the personal signature of the candidate or the party treasurer.
Reuyan stressed that winning candidates cannot assume office unless they comply with this requirement, alongside taking their oath of office and receiving their certificate of proclamation.
Campaign spending is also capped under the law. For political party-backed candidates in Mandaue, where there are 236,853 registered voters, the maximum allowable spending is P3 per voter, or roughly P710,559. Independent candidates, on the other hand, may spend P5 per voter.
Reuyan reminded candidates that overspending or failure to file a Soce can lead to serious penalties.
Under Section 14 of Republic Act 7166, or the Synchronized Elections Law of 1991, non-filing of a Soce is considered an administrative violation, punishable by a fine of P1,000 to P30,000 for the first offense, and P2,000 to P60,000 for subsequent offenses. Repeat violators may also face permanent disqualification from public office.
The Omnibus Election Code also imposes heavier sanctions for overspending, including imprisonment of one to six years, disqualification from holding public office and loss of voting rights.
Reuyan has called on all candidates to act promptly and responsibly. / CAV
Source: Comelec stresses penalties for overspending, non-filing
