Comelec calls on public to verify candidates’ campaign spending

DAVAO CITY — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is urging the public to actively scrutinize the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) submitted by candidates for Eleksyon 2025, emphasizing transparency and accountability in campaign financing.

Comelec Chair George Garcia underscored the importance of public oversight, stating that making SOCE records publicly available allows voters to verify the accuracy of reported campaign spending and contributions.

“People must review the SOCE to determine if candidates are accurately reporting their expenses or if there are unreported expenditures and undisclosed donors,” Garcia said on the sidelines of GMA Integrated News’ Masterclass series on Saturday.

Garcia added that public access to SOCE filings ensures that counter-checking depends not solely on Comelec but also on watchdogs, media, and ordinary citizens who can flag potential discrepancies.

Limitations of SOCE and Challenges in Monitoring Spending

While SOCE is critical in promoting financial transparency, Garcia acknowledged its limitations, particularly because it only covers expenses incurred during the official campaign period, which lasts two to three months before election day.

Under a Supreme Court ruling, SOCE does not account for expenses incurred before the campaign period, including those spent from filing candidacy on October 1 to 8, 2024.

“We have to comply with the ruling of the Supreme Court,” Garcia said, explaining that this legal constraint makes it difficult to track pre-campaign expenditures.

Furthermore, Garcia admitted that undisclosed agreements between candidates and donors pose another challenge, as some may conspire to underreport campaign expenditures to avoid exceeding spending limits.

“If they conspire, that would be very difficult to trace,” he said.

Ensuring Compliance and Voter Accountability

Despite these challenges, Garcia stressed that requiring candidates to submit SOCE remains essential, providing a layer of accountability.

“Submitting SOCE is a fundamental aspect of electoral responsibility. If a candidate disregards the law during the campaign, then voters cannot expect them to uphold integrity once in office,” he emphasized.

Comelec is also set to issue a resolution presuming that celebrities and social media influencers who endorse candidates are paid contractors, further reinforcing transparency in campaign spending.

With the 2025 elections approaching, Comelec continues to call on the public to monitor campaign financing, ensuring that candidates adhere to election laws and that voters make informed decisions based on a candidate’s commitment to transparency and accountability.