The Commission on Elections told a total of 424 local officials across the country to leave their posts which includes 12 congressmen, four governors, and 26 mayors including Pasay City’s Antonio Calixto and Batangas Governor Vilma Santos Recto.
Related Article: List of Local Officials who Failed to Submit SOCE
COMELEC Commissioner Sixto Brillantes Jr. announced through a press conference on Thursday morning that former President and Pampanga representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Gov. ER Ejercito, Gov. Amado Espino of Pangasinan and Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon lead the list of officials ordered by the COMELEC To vacate their posts.
Related Article: List of Congressmen Who Failed to Submit SOCE
The COMELEC ordered to vacate the post of local officials who failed to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) for the May 2013 Elections. According to Commissioner Brillantes they have coordinated with the DILG and the Office of Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to enforce the order.
Based upon party affiliations, COMELEC revealed that there are 169 elected officials came from the Liberal Party and 44 from the National Unity Party, 39 candidates from the Nacionalista Pary, 31 from Nationalist People’s Coalition, 29 from UNA, 17 from Lakas-CMD and 33 of the violators were independent candidates.
The COMELEC order has been sent to the House of Representatives and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for implementation. COMELEC clarifies, however, that once the elected officials comply wit the proper filing of SOCE’s, they will be reinstated to their respective offices.
According to a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, the COMELEC’s Campaign Finance Unit listed by position officials who either failed to file their SOCE’s or filed inadequate ones. They are numbered as follows:
- 278 councilors
- 48 city board members
- 35 vice mayors
- 26 mayors
- 20 representatives
- 11 provincial board members
- 4 governors
- 1 (–foul word(s) removed–)emblyman
- 1 vice governor
