TG Guingona spent P63M during campaign period

Senator-elect Teofisto “TG" Guingona III spent about P63 million during the two-month campaign period for the May 10 automated elections, records show. In his expenditure report submitted to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Guingona claimed to have spent P63,011,730.37, of which P61,775,000 was paid for by contributions. The rest came from Guingona’s pockets, the report said. A copy of the senator’s campaign contributors showed that family members, including his father, former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr., gave a combined P30 million for his campaign. It likewise showed that Northern Stream Laundry, Inc. and Northern Asia Steam Laundry each gave him P5 million while Yale Motors Parts and Tritonics Technology Phils. Inc. each gave him P2 million. On the other hand, Central World Enterprise Inc. and Fujita Parts Sales Center, Inc. contributed P2.1 and P1.2 million to his campaign, respectively. Guingona is the sixth highest spender among the 17 senatorial candidates who have filed their expenditure reports so far. Comelec Resolution 8944 says that candidates for president and vice president with political parties are only allowed to spend P10 per registered voter while other candidates also with parties may spend P3 per voter. On the other hand, candidates without the support of political parties may spend P5 for every voter. There are about 50.7 million registered voters. The resolution also says that the statement must indicate the amount of contribution, the date of its receipt, and the full name and address of the person who gave the contribution. It should also state the amount of every expenditure, the date it was incurred, the full name and address of the person who paid for it, and the purpose of the expenditure. It should likewise indicate if there is an "unpaid obligation" to any person. The deadline of the submission of contributions and expenditures is on June 24. As of June 16, here are the candidates who have provided their expenditures and contributions reports. The Comelec said they are listed in order of who spent the most during the campaign period.

SOURCE: COMELEC The resolution says that failure to file the statement will prevent a person from assuming office, if he is 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. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK/RSJ, GMANews.TV