The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has concluded its fact-finding investigation into the reported discrepancy between the Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) and the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) filed by Senator Rodante Marcoleta during the 2025 midterm elections.
Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco confirmed Wednesday that Marcoleta complied with the show-cause order issued by the poll body in November 2025. The order required the senator to explain the apparent inconsistency between his declared assets and reported campaign spending.
Records show that Marcoleta’s SALN reflected total assets amounting to P51.9 million. However, his SOCE indicated that he spent P112.8 million during the May 12, 2025, elections—more than double the amount of his declared net worth. The senator also declared in his SOCE that he did not receive any campaign contributions, raising questions about the source of the funds used for his campaign.
Laudiangco said that before a scheduled mid-December 2025 hearing by the Comelec Law Department, Marcoleta requested an extension to file his counter-affidavit. The commission granted the request, and the senator submitted his explanation in January 2026. With the documents now complete, the case is ready for resolution.
Under Section 99 of the Omnibus Election Code, candidates are required to declare all campaign-related expenses, including those funded by anonymous donors. The law mandates that SOCEs must be filed within 30 days after Election Day. Any unused campaign contributions must either be returned to donors or turned over to the National Treasury if the donors cannot be identified.
The requirement for candidates and political parties to submit full, true, and itemized SOCEs is also anchored in Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166, also known as the Synchronized National and Local Elections Law. Both the Omnibus Election Code and RA 7166 set clear spending limits and regulate campaign contributions to prevent undue influence from wealthy individuals, corporations, or special interest groups.
Failure to comply with SOCE filing requirements may result in severe penalties, including permanent disqualification from holding public office and fines. Deliberate falsification or misrepresentation of information may also lead to criminal charges punishable by imprisonment.
Comelec officials emphasized that transparency in campaign finance remains crucial to preserving the integrity of the electoral process.