Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 2) — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday reminded candidates to remove the campaign materials they posted for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and to file their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE).
In an interview, Comelec Chairman George Garcia said candidates must take down posters and other campaign materials within five days from Election Day or by Nov. 4.
“Ako naman po naniniwala na ‘yun pong mga kandidato, natalo man o nanalo, ay susunod naman sila. Kasi alam nila na may implikasyon ‘yan sa mga ‘susunod nila na pagtakbo,” Garcia added.
[Translation: I believe that candidates, winning or losing, will follow because they know there will be implications in their next candidacies if they don’t follow the rules.]
The poll body chief stressed that they cannot take down campaign materials posted on private properties, following the recent Supreme Court decision.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said not removing campaign materials may not affect their term of office but it has implications if they violated the poll body’s resolutions.
“Dapat maayos ang disposal at dispositions ng mga gamit na ‘yan. Kaya nga in the first place, sinasabi namin sa aming resolution, dapat recyclable at reusable ‘yung materials na ginagamit sa campaign materials nila,” he added.
[Translation: The disposal and dispositions of the materials must be orderly. In the first place, we said in our resolution that campaign materials must be recyclable and reusable.]
The poll body also reminded candidates to file their SOCE by the Nov. 29 deadline.
Under Republic Act 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act, no elected official can assume office without filing their SOCE.
First-time offenders will be asked to pay an administrative fine ranging from ₱1,000 to ₱30,000 within 30 days from receipt of notice.
Those who fail to submit their SOCE after two succeeding elections will no longer be allowed to run for public office and must pay a fine from ₱2,000 to ₱60,000.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier said it will no longer require winning candidates to submit their SOCE to the agency before they can assume their posts.
