6 out of 66 senatorial candidates fail to submit Soce

Comelec Chair George Garcia — Photo by Marianne Bermudez

MANILA, Philippines — Six out of the 66 candidates who ran for senator in the May 12 midterm polls failed to file their statement of contributions and expenditures (Soce) on June 11, the last day of filing.

Absent from the list forwarded by Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Erwin Garcia of those who complied were independent candidate Wilson Amad, Roy Cabonegro of the Democratic Party of the Philippines, Teddy Casiño and Mody Floranda of the Makabayan coalition, Wilbert Lee of Aksyon Demokratiko and Michael Tapada of Partido Maharlika.

Garcia said as part of due process, they will receive a letter from the Comelec’s political finance and affairs department, requiring them to submit an explanation.

READ: Comelec: No extension for submission of Soce

As of 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 60 out of 66 senatorial candidates, 141 out of 155 party list groups, and 25 out of 28 national political parties that participated in the elections had filed their Soce as required by the law.

In an online interview with reporters, Garcia said that for the first time, all the certificates will be uploaded online starting next week using a dedicated platform they were developing with the Department of Information and Communications Technology.