Batangas City—Unbelievable as it may seem, but the campaign expenses declared by candidates in the last election revealed that re-elected Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto was the biggest spender in the May 2010 elections compared to the 43 other candidates in the province, the Commission on Elections said.
In a June 25 report submitted by the candidates to the Comelec Law Department, a copy of which was handed to the SLI, Provincial Election Supervisor lawyer Gloria Ramos – Petallo, said Recto listed P3,616,512.25 as total expense for her re-election bid in the province’s highest post.
The Star for All Seasons also reported in her statement of election contributions and expenditures that P2,459,387.05 of the money she spent came from her own pocket, while P1,157,125.20 came from donations from supporters – all coming from a group named Friends of Vilma Santos – Recto c/o Francisco Lardizabal. Lardizabal is the province’s tourism officer.
Comelec records showed that Recto spent the highest amount among the province’s candidates in the recent elections.
Her closest rival Sto. Tomas Mayor Edna Sanchez, who ran as a substitute candidate for her late husband former Gov. Armando Sanchez two weeks before the elections, spent only P3,491,544.00 in the elections, all coming from her personal funds.
Records also showed that Sanchez was the biggest spender among the losing candidates in the province, followed by runningmate and losing vice gubernatorial bet Edwin Ermita, who spent P1,819,420.60 for the campaign.
Both Sanchez and Ermita did not list any contributor on the documents they submitted to the provincial Comelec office.
Former Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who ran but lost in the province’s first congressional district, spent P945,414.60 out of his personal funds. The winner of the district, Tomas Apacible spent a total of P853,058.91 election expenses.
Rep. Hermilando Mandanas, who ran and won his second term for the province’s second district, spent P925,000 for his electoral campaign, all coming from his own pocket. His closest rival Board Member Jun Berberabe spent the same amount for the elections.
Winning Third District Rep. Nelson Collantes, spent P930,000 out of his personal funds, while his closest competitor Malvar Mayor Cristeta Reyes, spent P900,000.
Rep. Mark Llandro Mendoza, who won the fourth district congressional race, spent a total of P705,750 out of his personal funds.
Batangas Vice Gov. Mark Leviste, who was re-elected for his second term, declared election expenses of P3,200,547.20, with only P150,547.20 coming from his own purse.
Losing first district board member bet Alexander Bonuan was the lowest spender among the provincial candidates with election expenses of only P40,000. Meanwhile, Marcos Mandanas did not spend a single centavo for his gubernatorial bid. Neither did Batangas saw his face during the campaign period.
Among the winning candidates, it was Rowena Sombrano – Africa who spent the least amount with election expenses of only P66,000, all coming from her own pocket.
Actor Christopher de Leon, who ran and won as board member for the second district, declared election expenses worth P950,000 for his campaign, making him the biggest spender among the candidates for the said post.
The candidates, who ran for the May 2010 elections, were required to submit their electoral expenses last June 24.
Petallo however said that eight candidates have not submitted the said document on the deadline date. Those who haven’t yet submitted are Nicomedes Hernandez (3rd District Congressman), Praxedes Bustamante (4th District Congressman), Gaudioso Platero (governor), Rodolfo Salanguit (1st District, Board Member), Julie Villena (2nd District, board member), Simeon Platon (3rd District, Board Member), Edgar Runes (3rd District Board member), and Fed Caisip (4th District, Board Member).
She said that Villena and Caisip had already submitted their report to the Comelec Law Department in Manila on June 28.
Resolution No. 9444 or the “Rules and Regulations Governing Electoral Contributions and Expenditures in Connection with the May 2010 National and Local Elections” requires candidates to file their statement of contributions and expenditures in triplicate copies to the Comelec by June 9.
The commission later extended the deadline for filing to June 24.
Candidates who fail to submit their report could face administrative fine penalties of P1,000 to P30,000, depending on the Comelec’s discretion.
Those who fail to file their expenses after running for the second time, likewise, may face penalties of P2,000 to P60,000 and be permanently disqualified from running for public office. (Marlon Alexander S. Luistro)
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