Overspending party-list groups may face disqualification, Comelec says

Winning party-list organizations may still face disqualification if found to have violated campaign spending limits set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Their representatives may also be barred from assuming their posts, Comelec chairman Jose Melo said in an interview with reporters. Under Comelec Resolution 8944, candidates for president and vice president with political parties are only allowed to spend P10 per voter while other candidates with parties may only spend P3 per voter. Candidates without the support of political parties may spend P5 for every voter. “Kapag malaki ang kanilang ginastos, how can you call them marginalized (If they spent too much, how can you call them marginalized)," Melo said. The Party-list System Act (Republic Act 7941) defines the party-list system as "a mechanism of proportional representation" in the election of representatives to the Lower House from those “belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations, and parties." Earlier, the Comelec said that candidates, political parties, and party-list groups have until June 9 to file a statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the elections. Comelec Resolution 8944 says that failure to file the statement will disallow party list representatives from assuming the office, if elected. It added that failure to submit the document will constitute an administrative offense which is punishable by a fine ranging from P1,000 to P30,000 at the discretion of the Comelec. Violation of the spending limit is also an election offense, which is punishable by disenfranchisement, disqualification from holding public office, and imprisonment from one to six years. Earlier in the day, the Comelec proclaimed 28 winning party-list organizations. As of Monday, only the Angat Ating Kabuhayan Pilipinas (ANAK) Party-list has filed an expenditure report with the poll body. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV