The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has reminded all candidates and political parties who participated in the recent elections to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE).
By electoral regulations, all official candidates, political parties, and party-lists are required to submit their SOCE, irrespective of the election outcome or campaign activities. This mandatory filing applies even if you:
- Were elected or not.
- Incurred no expenses and received no contributions.
- Did not actively pursue or continue your campaign.
- Self-funded your campaign entirely.
- Officially withdrew your candidacy after the campaign period commenced.
Each SOCE must be a notarized document bearing the personal signature of the candidate or the party treasurer (for political parties and party-lists).
Submissions must include the prescribed number of hard copies along with a soft/electronic copy in both PDF and Excel formats, contained within an external storage device.
The deadline for filing the SOCE is June 11, 2025, which falls within thirty (30) days from the date of the elections. Submissions will be accepted at the appropriate office of the Commission on weekdays, including Saturdays and holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
COMELEC has emphasized that this deadline is final and non-extendible. Any SOCE submitted after June 11, 2025, will not be accepted. Furthermore, submissions made via registered mail, electronic mail, courier, or messenger services will not be acknowledged.
Crucially, all elected candidates must comply with this SOCE submission requirement within the stipulated timeframe to be eligible to assume office.
Candidates and parties are urged to take immediate action to prepare and submit their SOCE to ensure compliance with electoral laws.
