By JEN BAYLON
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a stern warning to candidates in Negros Occidental who failed to remove their campaign materials within the mandated five-day period after the May 12 midterm elections, citing violations of the Fair Election Act that could lead to disqualification.
Provincial Elections Supervisor Ian Lee Ananoria announced that he will direct election officers to conduct an inventory of the campaign materials, identifying candidates who have not complied with the removal deadline, which was May 17 this year.
Ananoria said those who fail to remove their campaign paraphernalia from public places face the filing of election offenses, with possible disqualification as a consequence for winning candidates who disregard Comelec rules.
The Fair Election Act explicitly requires all candidates to take down campaign materials five days after the election, and failure to do so constitutes a campaign offense.
SOCE
Meanwhile, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia has also underscored that candidates may be held criminally liable for non-compliance, including facing charges of falsification and perjury if they submit untruthful Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).
In recent years, the Comelec filed numerous disqualification cases against candidates for similar violations, emphasizing the seriousness of adhering to election laws.
The commission continues to urge candidates to comply promptly to uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Comelec said the filing of SOCE aims to promote transparency and accountability by tracking how much each candidate spent during the campaign.
The poll body uses the SOCE to determine if candidates follow the allowable spending limits during the campaign period.
Ananoria expressed appreciation to those who have complied with the removal order and reiterated that a thorough inventory and survey will be conducted by the weekend to ensure full compliance.
The deadline for the submission of SOCEs is June 11, 2025.
The Comelec’s firm stance aims to maintain fair play and respect for election laws in Negros Occidental./JB, WDJ