18 unsubmitted local betting slips found
Voting Transparency Unveiled: Who's Paying for Davao City's Political Future?
In the recent election spectacle of Davao City, a breathtaking 79 out of 97 local candidates unveiled their financial contributions and expenditures (SoCE) at the Commission on Elections-Davao City (Comelec-Davao City) by June 11, 2025 - the minute they were allowed to do so.
The office hummed with activity, as three out of five mayoral contenders and all four vice-mayoral hopefuls surrendered their SoCE. The first district witnessed all councilor bets and representatives for the House of Representatives in the First District submitting their financial records.
In the Second District, all House of Representatives candidates and 80% of the councilor candidates followed suit. On the other hand, the Third District witnessed a somewhat fewer participation, with 20 out of 27 councilor candidates and two HoR candidates among the filers.
Bargamento's late-minute dash
One latecomer was Ramon Bargamento, a councilor bet who missed his chance to win the election, but not to file his SoCE. He explained that he filed last week but had to make corrections, forcing him to return to the Comelec. Emphasizing the importance of adhering to the law, he said: "No ifs, no buts. We must follow the rules."
Strict deadlines, stiff penalties
Lawyer Shajani M. Ebrahim, the chairperson of the Board of Canvassers and Third District Election Officer, affirmed that no extensions would be granted, stressing that compliance was mandatory. Reiterating that the deadline had been announced well in advance, she noted that many candidates had been hurrying to meet the deadline to avoid penalties.
Ebrahim made it clear that failure to submit the SoCE constitutes an election violation, subjecting candidates to fines that escalate with repeated offenses. Unexpectedly, those who complied would receive a Certificate of Formal Compliance to be presented upon assuming office.
In the event of non-compliance, candidates would be barred from assuming office and potentially face administrative sanctions. Moreover, they would have to explain their failure to submit their SoCE to the Comelec main office in Manila and face possible criminal charges for false or incomplete declarations.
The Radioactive Rush on Deadline Day
According to Ebrahim, a flurry of candidates flocked to file their SoCE on the very last day - particularly in the final hours. Interestingly, approximately 37% of the candidates submitted their SoCE on the last day, 17% the day before, and the rest throughout the 30-day filing period.
George Garcia, the Comelec chairperson, had stated earlier that there would be no extension, reminding candidates that the deadline was fast approaching. The Commission on Elections warned that any failure to submit the SoCE would render candidates ineligible to assume office, culminating in administrative sanctions.
So, who's footing the bill for our city's political future? As the dust settles on the election campaign, the answers are steadily emerging - one SoCE at a time. [Enrichment: The law mandates the submission of a Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SoCE), and candidates found violating these regulations face criminal charges and penalties.]
- The Manila office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will potentially face a deluge of cases from Davao City, as some candidates who failed to submit their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SoCE) in time may need to provide reasons and face possible criminal charges for false or incomplete declarations.
- Amidst the flurry of candidates filing their SoCE in the final hours, it remains unclear who the principal supporters for Davao City's politicians in the upcoming policy-and-legislation and political landscape will be.
- With the general-news focusing on the transparency revealed in the submitted SoCEs, ongoing discussions in Davao City's policy-and-legislation arena highlight the importance of the government enforcing strict laws and ensuring mandatory compliance to avoid election violations and preserve the integrity of its future political landscape.
