Manila: With just two days left before the deadline, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday announced that only 976 out of the more than 41,000 national and local candidates in the May 12 midterm elections have submitted their Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).

According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec data as of Monday revealed that eight senatorial candidates, 16 party-list organizations, and four political groups have lodged their SOCEs. The elections saw participation from 64 senatorial candidates, 154 party-list groups, and 28 political parties.

At the local level, a mere 948 out of the 41,217 candidates have filed their SOCEs. This includes four for provincial governor, three for vice governor, 39 for Sangguniang Panlalawigan member, seven for the House of Representatives, two for city mayor, 78 for municipal mayor, 10 for city vice mayor, 89 for municipal vice mayor, 68 for Sangguniang Panlungsod member, and 648 for Sangguniang Bayan member.

The law stipulates that SOCEs must be filed within 30 days from the election date, making this year's deadline June 11. National candidates and political parties are required to submit their SOCEs at the Bureau of the Treasury Training Hall in Intramuros, Manila, while local candidates must file at their respective local Comelec offices where they submitted their certificates of candidacy.

The SOCE must be submitted in the prescribed number of hard copies, along with a soft or electronic copy. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia emphasized that the commission will not accept any SOCEs filed after the deadline, stating, "Any SOCE filed beyond the deadline shall not be accepted."

Candidates who fail to submit their SOCEs will not be permitted to assume office and may face administrative proceedings. Conversely, candidates who comply will receive a Certificate of Formal Compliance, which is required for office assumption.