Mar Roxas finally files SOCE

Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas finally submitted his statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) on Wednesdsay.

Roxas' representatives trooped to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to file the SOCE and turn over some 50 boxes of supporting documents.

Roxas, the lone presidential candidate who failed to make the June 8 deadline, declared that he spent P487,331,601.36 in his presidential campaign.

This makes him the second top spender in the race, next to Sen. Grace Poe, who spent P510 million.

Roxas said in his SOCE that P18,037,139.01 of the campaign funds came from his own pocket and P469,294,462.35 were contributions.

Contributions, expenses

Roxas spent most on campaign advertisements, which amounted to at least P407.3 million.

He declared spending P46.4 million on travel expenses, P14.5 million for the printing of campaign materials, P9.8 million for the compensation of campaign staff, and P5.9 million for the operation of his headquarters.

His list of contributors, meanwhile, showed that much of his campaign was funded by his family, notably the affluent Araneta clan.

His mother, Araneta Group vice chair Judy Araneta-Roxas, poured in a total of P110 million to the campaign.

Roxas' uncle, Araneta Group chairman, CEO and president Jorge Araneta, contributed P70 million, while his aunt, Maria A. Fores, gave P60 million.

Also among his biggest campaign contributors was Francis Enrico Gutierrez, owner of mining corporation SR Metals, Inc., who chipped in P40 million.

These four were also the biggest contributors to the funds LP used in the campaign.

The party donated P72.3 million to Roxas' campaign in the form of ads.

'Late filing allowed'

Rep. Barry Gutierrez, spokesman of the Daang Matuwid coalition, said the submission accounts for everything "down to the last centavo" Roxas' camp spent for the campaign."

"This is the reason bakit kami natagalan. We wanted na complete record ang maisubmit. Gusto namin lahat ng expenses ma-account. Makikita n'yo bakit kami natagalan. There's boxes and boxes of receipts," Gutierrez said.

Asked about Roxas' stand on when to file the SOCE, he replied: "That it's okay for us to be a bit late as long as we submit all our transactions."

Roxas' SOCE was filed at the end of the 14-day extension his camp and the LP earlier requested from Comelec.

The said request was granted by the poll body's en banc via split vote, 4-3, despite recommendation from the Campaign Finance Office to deny it. 

The decision has drawn flak from other parties, and is expected to be challenged before the Supreme Court.

It also prompted senior Comm. Christian Robert Lim to quit as head of CFO.

Gutierrez said the law "does not prohibit late filing."

"If you'll ask me, malinaw naman 'yung batas natin na nagpo-provide that even past the deadline, you can submit the SOCE. To actually say otherwise is absurd. So ang sinasabi natin dito, 'pag 'di mo na-meet 'yung deadline, hindi ka na puwedeng mag-submit ever?" he said.

He added: "Doesn't that defeat the purpose na gusto mo nga mag-submit ang mga tao? Gusto mo i-encourage na mag-submit para makita at maging transparent 'yung accounting ng expenses and contributions." —ALG/NB, GMA News