The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday that there will be no extension of the deadline for the submission of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for all candidates who ran in the 2025 midterm elections.
In an interview on Damdaming Bayan, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized that the 30-day deadline given to candidates is sufficient.
“‘Yan po ay kinakailangan maifile nila 30 araw pagkatapos ng halalan, More or less June 11 nakapag-submit na sila ng SOCE,” said Garcia.
Garcia clarified that all candidates must submit their SOCE within 30 days after the elections, which means on or before June 11, 2025.
“At kapag hindi sila nag submit ng SOCE pwede po silang mag-administrative fine kung sumobra naman po yung gastos na nakalagay nila don kakasuhan po sila ng perjury at the same time kakasuhan din po sila ng violation ng SOCE Law natin,” the chair warned candidates.
He also explained that repeated failure to file a SOCE could lead to “perpetual disqualification” from holding public office—whether elected or appointed.
For the first time, Comelec plans to publish all submitted SOCEs on its official website.
“Lahat po ng SOCE na isasabmit ng lahat ng kandidato ay amin mong ilagay website ng Comelec. Ipapapublish po natin para makita ng ating mga kababayan kung ano at magkano ang ginastos ng bawat isang kandidato,” Garcia said.
Even those who withdrew their candidacy after becoming official candidates—specifically after February 11 for national positions and after March 28 for local ones—are still required to file their SOCEs.
The Comelec chair explained that SOCEs should reflect only the contributions and expenses incurred during the official candidacy period.
Comelec-Task Force Baklas on election campaign materials
In the recently concluded elections, he said that the Comelec-Task Force Baklas continues to monitor and remove leftover campaign materials, particularly those posted on public property.
Garcia reiterated that the Commission has no jurisdiction over materials on private property, but materials in public areas like barangay halls must be removed.
BARMM polls and BSKE
Meanwhile, Garcia also shared that they have started the preparations for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary polls, which he claimed is another major electoral event.
“Tayo ay naghahanda para sa Bangsamoro Parliament BARMM election ng October 13. Tatatandaan po natin na 5 buwan lang po ang pinagkaloob sa amin na panahon upang mapaghandaan ‘yang napakalawak din na eleksyon," he said.
Garcia further discussed that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will take place just a month after the BARMM elections, and the voting will be conducted “manually.”
He noted that the House of Representatives and the Senate are currently proposing changes to the term length of barangay officials, but with differing suggestions.
Sa mababang kapulungan po finifix nila termino g barangay officials ng 6 na taon, sa senado po nmana finifix nila na 4 na taon. Tingnan po natin pag nagresume ang atin pong kongreso kung yan po ay aipapasa na at maisusulong kung ilan taon talaga yung pagfifix ng termino ng atin pong mga barangay officials.
“Sa Mababang Kapulungan po finifix nilang termino ng barangay officials ng 6 na taon, sa Senado po naman finifix nila na 4 na taon,” Garcia stated.
Currently, barangay officials serve 3-year terms, but due to election delays, those elected in 2022 would have served only 2 years if elections push through this December.
