Espino: Comelec was duped
CERTIFIED TRUE COPY IS PROOF
LINGAYEN—Someone tried to dupe the Commission on Elections.
This became evident that contrary to news that made national headlines, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. has shown proof that he submitted his Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) on time and the chairman of the Commission on Elections (Comelec)-Pangasinan office has confirmed this.
Atty. Marino Salas, provincial election supervisor, said he already sent a letter last Friday to the Comelec central office in Manila to clarify the matter and reiterated an earlier statement that he does not know nor understand how the documents could have been misplaced.
At a press conference last December 12, Espino presented to the media documents duly certified by the Comelec Provincial Office in Dagupan City that his SOCE was received June 10 at 3:40 p.m.
“As far as our records are concerned, Gov. Espino has filed his SOCE on June 10 and we sent it (to Comelec Manila),” said Salas in an interview via phone-patch.
Salas added that his office has performed its mandate and submitted Espino’s SOCE together with those of other candidates in the province on June 21, 2013 through the carrier JRS-Dagupan and these documents were supposed to have been received by the Law and Records departments of Comelec-Manila the following day, June 22.
Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Geraldine Baniqued, who joined Espino in the press conference, said, “We have complied with the provisions of law, even earlier than the deadline.”
Espino said he has talked to Brillantes, who told him that Salas only needs to show his office proving that the governor has submitted the requirements.
“I hope this issue will now be laid to rest,” concluded the governor.
Republic Act 7166 mandates all candidates, whether winning or losing, to submit their SOCE 30 days after the polls.
Brillantes ordered at least 400 local officials to vacate their posts during a press conference last Thursday for failing to submit filing their election contributions and expenses to the poll body.—with reports from Eva Visperas, Johanne R. Macob, PIO
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
