Comelec warns bets: Submit poll expenses or be disqualified

By Glaiza Ana de los Reyes

BAGUIO CITY – Poll bets who fail to submit election expenditures face disqualification and would be barred from assuming their positions inholding public office, the regional Commission on Elections here warned.

The Comelec requires all candidates who ran during the last election to submit their sworn statement of election contribution and expenditures before June 9.

This even as no poll bet from Baguio and Benguet has reportedly submited such list to the electoral body as of press time even as two mayoral candidates of Baguio denied they overspent last elections.

Candidates Mauricio Domogan and Mark Go told local media it’s not true that they over spent and exceeded the limitation set by the Comelec.

Domogan won as mayor of this summer resort city.

Overspending falls under election offense, said lawyer Elenita Tabangin, Baguio-Benguet Comelec chief.

“No one has filed cases that they (Domogan and Go) exceeded the limits, but they will go under investigation, she said.

Tabangin said each candidate could only spend P3 per voter depending on population of municipality.

If there are overspent expenses, receipts for election paraphernalia to papers, tarpaulins and TV ads would have to be submitted, she added.

According to Tabangin, candidates who won but failed to submit their requirements will have cases filed against them by the Comelec for violation of the Omnibus Election Code.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Internal Revenue said tax collection in relation to this would be a big help for the government.