Bicol: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Bicol region has announced that 2,615 out of the 2,806 candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy for the May 12 national and local elections have submitted their Statements of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCEs) before the June 11 deadline.

According to Philippines News Agency, Maria Juana Valeza, the Comelec Bicol Director, stated in an interview that late submissions will not be accepted. Across the six provinces, Albay saw 455 out of 475 candidates submitting their SOCEs, Camarines Norte had 334 out of 349, Camarines Sur reported 854 out of 929, Catanduanes had 260 out of 271, Masbate recorded 374 out of 393, and Sorsogon reported 338 out of 389 candidates.

Valeza highlighted that candidates who fail to submit their SOCE will incur an administrative fine and will not be allowed to assume public office. Based on Comelec Resolution 11109, failing to file SOCE constitutes an administrative offense, making the offender liable to pay an administrative fine.

The resolution specifies that the fine must be paid within 30 days from the receipt of notice, and it can be enforced by a writ of execution against the offender's properties. The administrative fines vary by position: for Representative, it is PHP30,000 for the first offense and PHP60,000 for the second offense; for Governor and Vice-Governor, it is PHP25,000 for the first offense and PHP50,000 for the second offense; and for Member of Sangguniang Panlalawigan, it is PHP20,000 for the first offense and PHP40,000 for the second offense.

City mayors and vice-mayors face fines of PHP20,000 for the first offense and PHP40,000 for the second offense; for Sanguniang Panlungsod, it is PHP15,000 for the first offense and PHP30,000 for the second offense; and for municipal mayor, vice mayors, and members of Sangguniang Bayan, it is PHP10,000 for the first offense and PHP20,000 for the second offense.

Valeza also mentioned that a candidate's failure to file their SOCE twice could serve as grounds for disqualification in future elections. She emphasized that all candidates are required to submit their SOCE, regardless of whether they win or lose.