Binay spent P217M during campaign — records

Vice President-elect Jejomar Binay spent P217 million during the campaign for the May 10 automated elections, but he still has P13 million left from contributions, records of the Commission on Elections show. Binay received P231,480,000 in campaign contributions from different people, according to a poll expense report his camp filed late Wednesday. However, the same document showed that he claims to have spent only P217,938,289 during the two-month campaign period, leaving a balance of P13,541,711. Earlier, the expenditure report of President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III also showed that he received P37 million more than what he spent. Aquino has the right to choose where to spend the contributions given to him but that he has to declare where he spent the money if was used for his campaign, the Comelec said. The poll body likewise said that it cannot regulate from whom the contributions would come. Binay's largest contributor is Darlene Webb Zshornack, vice president of San Juan City-based Planet Drugstore Corporation, who gave P10 million. Most of his campaign contributors were his fraternity brothers and sisters from the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, who gave him at least P28 million combined. The vice president-elect also received P5 million from Victor B. Valdepeñas, president and chief executive officer of the Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines Inc. Binay also received P3 million from Victor S. Limlingan, a managing director of DMCI Holdings Inc., a Consunji-led company with interests in water distribution, real-estate, construction, and mining. The company built SM Megamall in the early 90s. Binay also claims to have received P2.5 million each from Ritra Phils. Inc., Rams House of Wine Inc., and 2355 Property Holding Company. The outgoing Makati mayor's family also supposedly contributed at least P7 million for his campaign. 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 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. Candidates have until Thursday to file their expenditure reports. The resolution says that failure to file the statement 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. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV