COMELEC, DILG to apply campaign fund rules

Wednesday 6th of June 2012

MANILA, June 6 (PIA) -- The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) are set to strictly implement Section 14 of Republic Act No. 716 immediately following a local election, a statement posted on the agency website said.

Section 14 of RA 7166 prohibits elective officials from holding public office if they failed to file their statement of campaign contributions and expenditures.

Said measure covers local elective officials from the governor down to members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod and/or Bayan. The country's midterm legislative and local elections will be held on May 13, 2013.

“Before administering an oath of office to any winning candidate or allowing a winning candidate assumption into office, the DILG or any attached agencies shall require him or her to present a Certification from the COMELEC that he or she have satisfactorily complied with his or her obligation under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 by filing his or her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures with COMELEC. Absent this Certification, the winning candidate cannot enter into the execution of his or her office…” the statement read.

Earlier, the COMELEC and DILG entered into a memorandum of agreement to strictly enforce the campaign finance rules.

According to COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez; except candidates for elective barangay office, failure to file statements or reports on electoral campaign contributions or expenditures constitutes an administrative offense meting offenders an administrative fine of P1,000 to P30,000.

For the commission of a second or subsequent offense, Jimenez said, offenders shall be liable to pay an administrative fine from Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000) to Sixty Thousand Pesos (P60,000) and shall be subject to perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 states that every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within 30 days after the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission on Elections the “full, true and itemized” statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election. (COMELEC/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)