DILG maintains no elected official can assume office without filing Soce
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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday affirmed that no elected official can assume office without having filed their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (Soce).
The DILG made the pronouncement after the June 11 deadline on the submission of Soce for candidates and political parties, citing Republic Act (RA) No. 7166 and the Commission on Elections Resolution No. 10730.
READ: Comelec: No extension for submission of Soce
“The SOCE filing requirement applies to all candidates, whether elected or not,” declared the DILG in a statement.
“Under the law, no elected official shall be allowed to assume office until the required Soce has been submitted in full compliance with the rules set by the Comelec,” it added.
The DILG then maintained that with its mandate to supervise local governments, it will not issue any recognition of assumption or acknowledge any oath-taking for officials who failed to meet the Soce filing requirement.
All regional and field offices, in turn, have been instructed to coordinate and verify with Comelec if a certain elected official has filed their Soce before acting on any assumption to office at the local level.
The DILG also directed local government units and transition teams to ensure that all legal prerequisites, including the Soce, are verified and fulfilled before proceeding with any turnover or assumption ceremonies.
“The failure to file Soce may also result in administrative fines for both winning and losing candidates,” the DILG explained.
“Repeat violations result [in] stiffer fines and subject the offender to perpetual disqualification to hold public office,” it added.
According to the DILG, the Soce requirement is there to promote transparency in the use of campaign funds.
