The country’s national poll body, Commission on Electins (Comelec) en banc has granted ther equest of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) to extend the deadline for the submission of its Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). The Commision en banc voted 4-3 to extend the deadline to submit SOCEs until June 30.
Based upon the votes of the Comelec commissioners, those who voted for the extension are Arthur Lim, Rowena Guanzon, Al Parreño and Sheriff Abbas while those who voted against the extension are Comelec Chairman Andy Bautista, Campaign Finance Office Chair Christian Robert Lim, and Commissioner Luie Guia.
During a press conference with the media, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said Bautista voted against the extension but recommended allowing late filing of SOCE with appropriate fine. According to the Comelec spokesman the four commissioners who voted for the extension cited the absurdity of the result if they will not allow the extension of the filing of the SOCE.
The Comelec also clarified that the SOCE submission extension did not only benefits the Liberal Party because it will benefit five senators, 115 congressment, and 40 governors.
The poll body’s Campaign Finance Office (CFO) on Wednesday recommended the denial of the party’s request, saying granting so would be unfair to all the other national political parties and national candidates who were able to submit their SOCE on time.
Based upon the records of the COMELEC, out of all the national candidates particularly for the President and the Vice President, only LP’s standard bearer Mar Roxas failed to file his SOCE.
The ruling Liberal Party of Pres. Aquino was able to submit its SOCE on Tuesday, or six days after the deadlineo filing last June 8. The Comelec accepted their SOCE but it was only ministerial because they are still waiting for the decision of the Comelec en banc which favors the administration party.