All elected officials of Negros Occidental have filed their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) and can assume their posts, Negros Island Region Commission on Elections Director Lionel Marco Castillano said on Wednesday, June 18.
Of the 778 candidates in Negros Occidental who ran for office in the midterm elections in May, 703 filed their SOCEs, Provincial Elections Officer Ian Lee Ananoria said.
The 75 who failed to file their SOCEs were losing candidates, he said.
Of the 40 who ran for provincial government posts, seven losers also failed to file their COCs, Ananoria said.
Those who did not win and did not file their SOCEs will face administrative fines for a first offense, Castillano said.
Repeat violations will result in stiffer fines and the offender could face perpetual disqualification to hold public office, Castillano said.
In Negros Oriental of its 617 candidates 589 filed their SOCEs or 95.46 percent, while in Siquijor of its 162 candidates 153 filed their SOCEs or 94.44 percent, Castillano said.
He said the Comelec is serious about going after violators as it did during the last Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
There were SK winners who did not file their SOCEs who were not allowed to assume their posts, and bets who were perpetually disqualified from running for public office, he said.
Castillano said the SOCE requirement will help weed out those who are not serious about running for public office and perpetually file Certificates of Candidacy (COCs).
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 and COMELEC Resolution No. 10730 requires that all candidates and political parties in the May 2025 elections file their SOCEs by June 11, without extension.
Under the law, no elected official shall be allowed to assume office until the required SOCE has been submitted in full compliance with the rules set by the COMELEC, it said.
“The SOCE requirement promotes transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections and in the use of campaign funds. It serves as a post-election compliance measure to ensure integrity in public office and to reinforce public trust in electoral processes,” the DILG said.
The DILG reiterates that full compliance with the SOCE requirement is a condition precedent to the lawful entry into public office. Local government units and transition teams are directed to ensure that all legal prerequisites, including the SOCE, are verified and fulfilled before proceeding with any turnover or assumption ceremonies.*