LIST: Marcos-Duterte campaign costliest in May 2022 polls, but Villar biggest out-of-pocket spender

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 15) — The May 9 polls delivered a huge boost to the economy as local and national candidates spent billions of pesos combined to court Filipinos to vote for them.

CNN Philippines secured copies of the Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCEs) filed by national candidates before the Commission on Elections’ Campaign Finance Office (CFO).

The winning tandem of President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte mounted the costliest campaigns running up to the May 2022 polls, and they did so without spending a single peso of their personal funds.

Together, the UniTeam tandem declared spending over ₱840 million between February 8 to May 7, the official campaign period. It paid off with landslide victories for both, with Marcos having spent ₱623.23 million and Duterte ₱216.19 million.

About half of the amounts came from donations from their political parties: Partido Federal ng Pilipinas for Marcos and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Lakas CMD for Duterte.

Former Vice President Leni Robredo was a far second in terms of spending at ₱388.35 million, most of which were cash donations from supporters and ₱19,778.99 out of her pocket.

Other high-profile candidates hoping to raise their chances of winning wielded their star power or billionaire status.

Boxing champ and Senator Manny Pacquiao footed more than half of his presidential campaign from personal funds, totaling ₱62.68 million.

Former Senate President Tito Sotto shelled out ₱49.39 million for his vice presidential run. The former actor and TV host finished third in the race.

Opposition Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, husband of Megastar Sharon Cuneta, took ₱21.1 million out of his own pocket for the campaign, on top of ₱109.5 million in cash donations.

Among the 12 winning senators, returning Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano had the most expensive campaign, worth ₱245.3 million. Sen. Migz Zubiri followed with ₱176.83 million, then Sen. Jinggoy Estrada at ₱174.25 million.

Major spenders

The biggest campaign spender is first-time Senator Mark Villar. The son of the country’s richest man, former Senate President Manny Villar, mounted his ₱132-million campaign only using his own money.

Broadcaster Raffy Tulfo (₱38.75 million), former actor Sen. Jinggoy Estrada (₱23.5 million), and presumptive Senate President Migz Zubiri (₱21.34 million) all followed in terms of out-of-pocket expenses.

But not all big spenders were victorious. Former Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro settled at the 15th spot in the Senate race despite taking ₱67.6 million out of his savings to campaign. Ex-Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Former Vice President Jejomar Binay also spent ₱44.7 million and ₱21.3 million, respectively, to no avail.

Former Malacañang officials Salvador Panelo spent ₱12.5 million out of pocket, while former President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman Harry Roque used ₱9.8 million from his own account to campaign.

SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta also spent ₱54.6 million from his own money before he withdrew from the Senate race just weeks from May 9.

Comelec is going through each report and receipt to check if the declared figures are accurate.

“Kapag makita namin in our audit na nag-overspend siya, ang ginagawa namin ay nagpe-prepare na agad kami ng complaint diyan sa Law Department for an election offense [Once we spot in our audit that a candidate overspent, we immediately prepare a complaint before the Law Department for an election offense],” Comelec CFO director Efraim Bag-id said in a phone interview.

Bag-id clarified that for statements with clerical errors or discrepancies, Comelec tells the candidate to explain such in writing.

The declared amounts are also checked against receipts and contracts for advertising, catering, events, and other incidental expenses. These should all be within campaign spending limits set at ₱674 million for presidential and vice presidential bets, ₱202 million for aspiring senators who ran under a political party, and ₱337 million for those who ran as independent.

Windfall

As in previous elections, some candidates ended up soliciting more campaign donations than they were able to use for the campaign.

Cayetano got a ₱9.9 million windfall from donations, followed by Villanueva with ₱4.15 million. Losing vice presidential bet Walden Bello was left with a ₱2.86 million surplus for having declared zero expenses. Opposition candidate Teddy Baguilat ended up with ₱2.35 million in excess funds, while Marcos was left with ₱1.45 million.

What should they do with the extra money?

“It’s really up to the candidate kasi ang nature niyan, donation siya eh. Pagka donation, parang ikaw na may-ari noon [by nature, it’s a donation. When it’s a donation, it’s as if you already own that money],” Comelec’s Bag-id explained, noting there is no law requiring candidates to return the money to sponsors.

Bag-id noted that losing bets will still be held accountable. Their failure to file a spending report will entail a fine and may even be the basis of a perpetual ban from holding any government post.

“Kung ikaw ay second timer or habitual delinquent ka [If it’s already your second time for not filing a SOCE or you’re a habitual delinquent] –– meaning two or more [misses] –– maliban doon sa administrative fine, an administrative liability will also be imposed to you preventing you from holding public office,” the Comelec official added. “You are perpetually disqualified from all public office, both in appointive and elective positions.”

Among those who did not file SOCEs by the June 8 deadline were presidential bets Norberto Gonzales, Faisal Mangondato, Ernie Abella, and vice presidential bet Rizalito David.