The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Thursday that it wouls make public the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) submitted by senatorial candidates and party-list groups from the recent midterm elections, as part of its transparency efforts.
Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the move aims to enable donors—both individuals and organizations—to verify whether their contributions were properly reported in the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
Garcia added that this will be the first time the documents will be made accessible through an online platform, in collaboration with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
“Ang hirap isa-isahin kaya dito papasok ang vigilance ng taumbayan natin kahit hindi kalaban, kahit yung ordinaryong constituent nila, yung mga ordinaryong kababayan natin. Makita nila kung yung mismong sinubmit ay totoo o hindi,” said Garcia.
“Pati yung mga nag-donate, nag-contribute, tingnan niyo mismo yung submission ng inyong donasyon, baka hindi kayo naka-report. Kung hindi man either pinalaki yung donation niyo o baka naman pinaliit ang donation niyo at hindi totoo. Yan ay obligasyon nating lahat,” he added.
Garcia noted that they are currently awaiting feedback from the DICT, as all systems intended for use in publishing the SOCEs require the agency’s approval.
“Yung program nasa DICT pa kasalukuyan, ine-eexpect natin na sana hanggang bukas magbigay na ng go signal upang by next week pwedeng maisa-isa namin na mailaga na, ma-download ang SOCE ng kandidato sa national,” he said.
“May dedicated platform para dun,” he said.
When the commission was questioned whether they are ready for legal action shall be taken or when donors question the move, Garcia explained that not one of the candidates or party-lists has questioned the move.
“Nung nag-file sila ng candidacy may waiver sila don na ilalantad namin yung COC. Pag nag-file ka ng candidacy, private yun mula sayo, pagdating sa Comelec public. Bakit naman makikisama pa ang Comelec sa paglilihim ng public document, e diba may issue tayo ng transparency,” he said.
“If they want to question so be it. Ang sa amin, bakit mo kailangan ilihim kung sinong nagbigay? Kaya pinapa-submit yun. Dapat alam ng publiko kung sino ang nagbigay, nag-donate, eh papaano kung yung mismong nag-donate, nagbigay ay contractor pa? Mismong LGU halimbawa,” he added.
Meanwhile, Garcia warned that candidates who exceeded the allowable campaign spending limits would be held accountable for committing an election offense.
He also called for electoral reforms, particularly in updating campaign spending limits, saying the current ₱3 to ₱5 cap per voter is “no longer practical and realistic” in today’s political and economic landscape.
“Ipupursige namin to the fullest yung criminal case regarding sa kanila. Perjury pa yun, hindi lang election offense sa SOCE, perjury yan kasi lahat ng SOCE ay pinapanumpaan at remember hindi namin tinatanggap kapag hindi ito under oath,” he said.