Friday, March 16, 2012

COMELEC-DILG Sign Pact

COMELEC, DILG Sign Pact 
to Strictly Enforce Campaign Finance Rules
March 14, 2012
The Commission on Elections and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) signed today a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to strictly enforce Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 that prohibits elective officials who failed to file their statement of campaign contributions and expenditures from holding public office.The COMELEC-DILG pact shall cover local elective officials from Governor down to Members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod and /or Bayan.

“Before administering an oath of office to any winning candidate or allowing a winning candidate assumption into office, the DILG or any attached agencies shall require him or her to present a Certification from the COMELEC that he or she have satisfactorily complied with his or her obligation under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 by filing his or her Statement of Contributions and Expenditures with COMELEC. Absent this Certification, the winning candidate cannot enter into the execution of his or her office…” stated in the Memorandum of Agreement. 

According to COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez; except candidates for elective Barangay office, failure to file statements or reports on electoral campaign contributions or expenditures constitutes an administrative offense meting offenders an administrative fine of One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) to Thirty Thousand Pesos (P30,000). 

For the commission of a second or subsequent offense, Jimenez said, offenders shall be liable to pay an administrative fine from Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000) to Sixty Thousand Pesos (P60,000) and shall be subject to perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 states that every candidate and treasurer of the political party shall, within thirty (30) days after the day of the election, file in duplicate with the offices of the Commission on Elections the “full, true and itemized” statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election.
http://www.comelec.gov.ph/
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VOTERS' PLEDGE

I am a Responsible and Principled Citizen.

I will educate myself and others about the issues at hand so that my vote is a meaningful and relevant exercise of my right of suffrage.

I pledge to vote for candidates who will abide by the duly constituted rules on campaigning because I understand that those who refuse to obey the law in the little things are not likely to obey the law in the more important things;

I pledge to vote for candidates who, by word and action, renounce violence, coercion, vote-buying, and corruption as means for getting elected;

I pledge to vote for the candidates who listen to their constituents and are responsive to the needs and aspirations of those they seek to represent;

I pledge to vote as my conscience dictates in all elections.

I make these promises freely and upon my honor.

(This Voter Pledge was read at the Unity Walk of 13 January 2013, by COMELEC Commissioner Elias R. Yusoph)

SOURCE: NAMFREL