Six Candidates Missed Filing Statement of Contributions and Expenditures in Zamboanga City
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Six candidates from two legislative districts in the city failed to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) by the June 11 deadline, local election officials reported.
Atty. Stephen Roy Cañete, the District 1 Election Officer, revealed that three candidates in his jurisdiction missed the filing. This group included a congressional candidate, a vice mayoral candidate, and the late mayoral candidate Orlando Negrete, who passed away before the elections.
Meanwhile, Atty. Jan Christian Babiera, the District 2 Election Officer, confirmed that three council candidates from his district also failed to file their SOCEs on time.
Legal Obligations and Consequences for Non-Compliance
Under Republic Act 7166, all national and local candidates—whether they win or lose—are mandated to file their SOCE within 30 days after the election day. This ensures transparency about campaign finances and promotes electoral integrity.
Failure to comply with this requirement carries strict penalties. Candidates who do not file their SOCEs risk being barred from assuming their elected positions. Additionally, they face perpetual disqualification from holding any public office in the future.
Election Officials Emphasize Transparency
Local leaders noted that filing SOCEs is a critical part of upholding democratic accountability. “Importante gyud ang pag-file sa SOCE para makita sa publiko ang kahimtang sa mga kandidato,” a local official said, highlighting the role of transparency in election processes.
Authorities continue to remind candidates and their teams about these legal requirements to maintain public trust and ensure fair elections.
For more news and updates on election regulations, visit Filipinokami.com.