The Campaign Finance Office (CFO) of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has denied the request of the Liberal Party (LP) and its presidential bet Mar Roxas to extend the filing of their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE).
"...the undersigned, in his capacity as commissioner-in-charge of the Campaign Finance Office, respectfully votes to deny the request of the Liberal Party and its presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, as communicated by Atty. Sardillo," the document said.
"...the undersigned, in his capacity as commissioner-in-charge of the Campaign Finance Office, respectfully votes to deny the request of the Liberal Party and its presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II, as communicated by Atty. Sardillo," the document said.
LP and Roxas had earlier asked for a 14-day extension to file their SOCE after they failed to meet the June 8 deadline set by the Comelec. They finally filed their SOCE on June 14.
According to Lim, Republic Act 7166 clearly states that submission of SOCE should be made within 30 days after the elections. He said extension to the deadline means that Comelec should amend the law.
He also said it is stated in the Omnibus Rules on Campaign Finance that the June 8 deadline is "final and non-extendible."
He also said it is stated in the Omnibus Rules on Campaign Finance that the June 8 deadline is "final and non-extendible."
He added that it will not be fair to other candidates who submitted their SOCEs on time to extend the deadline for LP.
"To grant the request for extension would not only be unfair to other candidates and parties who complied within the prescribed period but also would be a reversal of the commission's own resolution on the matter," Lim said in the memorandum.
He also noted that even defeated presidential candidate Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was able to file her SOCE before the deadline despite her being on medical leave.
"It is worthy to note that even presidential candidate and incumbent Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago was able to comply… despite being on medical leave and her confinement in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Makati Medical Center a few days before the deadline,” he said in the memorandum.
Lim’s recommendation, however, is not yet final, as the seven-member Comelec en banc will vote on the recommendation on Thursday.
Republic Act 7166 states that winning candidates cannot take their posts if their party failed to file their SOCE. LP’s failure jeopardizes the position of their elected members, including Vice President-elect Leni Robredo.
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