Latest news with #COMELEC
GMA Network
16-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
DILG: Elected officials without SOCEs cannot assume office
No elected official shall be allowed to take office unless he or she has complied with the submission of a statement of campaign expenses to the Commission on Elections, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Monday. In a statement, the DILG said it would not recognize the assumption nor acknowledge any oath-taking by officials who failed to file their SOCEs. The DILG cited its mandate to supervise local governments and implement relevant election-related laws and policies "Under the law, no elected official shall be allowed to assume office until the required SOCE has been submitted in full compliance with the rules set by the Comelec," the DILG said. "The DILG will not issue any recognition of assumption or acknowledge any oath-taking for officials who failed to meet the SOCE filing requirement," it added. "All regional and field offices have been instructed to coordinate with COMELEC for verification prior to acting on any assumption to office at the local level," the DILG said. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 and Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Resolution No. 10730, all candidates and political parties in the May 2025 elections were required to file their SOCEs by June 11, 2025, without extension. The SOCE filing requirement applies to all candidates, whether elected or not. "The failure to file SOCE may also result in administrative fines for both winning and losing candidates. Repeat violations result into stiffer fines and subject the offender to perpetual disqualification to hold public office," the DILG said. The DILG said the SOCE requirement promoted transparency and accountability in the conduct of elections and in the use of campaign funds. It serves as a post-election compliance measure to ensure integrity in public office and to reinforce public trust in electoral processes. "The DILG reiterates that full compliance with the SOCE requirement is a condition precedent to the lawful entry into public office," it said. "Local government units and transition teams are directed to ensure that all legal prerequisites, including the SOCE, are verified and fulfilled before proceeding with any turnover or assumption ceremonies," it added. –NB, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Losing candidates in Cities of Cebu, Mandaue file election protest
The former mayors of Cebu City and Mandaue City filed respectively an election protest against their opponents in #Eleksyon2025. Former Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes questioned an alleged suspicious glitch during the vote counting that affected purportedly the result. At the COMELEC office in Manila, Cortes' legal team filed formally the election protest on Friday, May 23, 2025. His camp underscored that there were questionable situations during the tallying of election results that need clarification. "Duha na ato gi-allege, intrinsic fraud, meaning naa sa program o software mismo nga maoy naka-cause sa irregularity sa results ug ang extrinsic fraud, ang process sa voting itself no, daghan pod to og nagkalain-laing instances nga na-cite na," said Atty. Jamaal Calipayan, Mandaue City administrator. Cortes' camp has stood by their claims based on affidavits from watchers and lawyers, they said, that would support the allegations. 'Ang ato gi-kwestyon lang pod, sama sa statement ni mayor of course we need an explanation from kung kinsa ang responsible parties ini, aron ma-avoid siya in the future,' Calipayan added. In a statement on his official social media account, Cortes said that the protest has nothing to do with bitterness but about protecting people's votes. 'This is not about bitterness, this is not against our opponents who were declared winners. This is about protecting your vote, our vote. Daghang panghitabo niining piniliay, gikinahanglang hatagan og atensyon,' his statement reads. Cebu 6th District Provincial Board Member Jonkie Ouano has been declared winner in the mayoral race in Mandaue City. When GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak sought a comment from Ouano about Cortes' election protest, he said that the action is Cortes' prerogative. Ouano further said he has delegated to his legal team the task of responding to accusations, as he is focused tightly on the local governance transition and priorities leading to his assumption of office. Moreover, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama also filed an election protest in Manila. He used as basis the alleged glitches in the automated counting machines (ACMs) that he said could have possibly influenced the vote count. According to Cebu City Mayor-elect Nestor Archival, it is Rama's right to raise a complaint, or a protest. As for outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, he said it is best to accept defeat and focus on working with the new administration to be more of service to the community.
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec junks DQ case vs Erwin Tulfo
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed a petition to disqualify Senator-elect Erwin Tulfo in the May 2025 midterm elections. In a 25-page decision dated Thursday, the Second Division said the disqualification case filed by Toto Causing and Graft-Free Philippines Foundation Inc. (GFPFI) against Tulfo was junked over petitioners' failure to observe certain requirements. 'The Petition is DISMISSED,' it said. 'At the onset, it is imperative to settle the procedural issues raised by Respondent alleging Petitioners' failure to observe certain requirements under the rules, and such failure warrants the outright dismissal of the Petition for insufficiency in form,' it added. The certificate of candidacy (COC) submitted by the petitioners has no affidavit of authentication. There is also no secretary's certificate. 'Respondent pointed out that Petitioners attached an electronic copy of Respondent's COC downloaded from the COMELEC website sans an Affidavit of Authentication in accordance with Section 4 (2) of COMELEC Resolution No. 11046,' the Second Division said. 'Additionally, Respondent also pointed out that there is no Secretary Certificate showing that Petitioner Calonge was duly authorized by Petitioner GFPFI, a juridical entity, to sign on its behalf the Verification and Certification of Non-Forum Shopping, in accordance with Section 5 of Rule 7 of the Rules of Court,' it added. Causing's group called for Tulfo's disqualification in the 2025 senatorial race for having been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude and not being a Filipino citizen. The petitioners cited alleged violation of the Section 26 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution on equal access to opportunities to public service, the political dynasty provisions, and nepotism. Also, they said Section 1 of Article XI of the 1987 Constitution was violated for failing to prove his academic qualification or ability to serve the People of the Philippines with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency. 'In view of the multiple grounds already established for the dismissal of the Petition, the other matters and issues raised by the parties no longer merit any consideration,' the Second Division said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
19-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
#Eleksyon2025 poll workers in Lapu-Lapu City claim honorarium
Teachers who served during #Eleksyon2025 in Lapu-Lapu City arrived at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) office to fill out Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Form 2307, a requisite to claim their honorarium. Teachers who constituted the Electoral Board in Barangays Pangan-an, Caohagan, Caubian, Tungasan, Tingo, Talima, Caw-oy, Baring, San Vicente, Santa Rosa, Sabang, Pusok, Subabasbas, Pajo, and Punta Engaño, received their honorarium at about 1 p.m. on Monday, May 19, 2025. Teachers in other barangays in mainland Lapu-Lapu City are set to receive their honorarium on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, while support staff members are to get their honorarium on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, and Thursday, May 22, 2025. On Friday, May 23, 2025, other support staff members and technicians will get their honorarium. According to Atty. Ann Janette Lamban, election officer of COMELEC Lapu-Lapu City, there is a total of 906 Electoral Boards, 836 support staff members, 117 Priority Polling Place (PPP) support staff members, and 12 support staff members for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL). The Electoral Board chairperson is set to receive P12,000; P11,000 for poll clerks and the third member; and P8,000 for each Electoral Board support staff member. However, a 15-percent tax will be deducted from the said amounts. Further, Atty. George Erwin Garcia, COMELEC chairman, has announced that poll workers will get an additional P1,000.
SBS Australia
18-05-2025
- Politics
- SBS Australia
SBS News in Filipino, Sunday 18 May 2025
The Opposition says it will support government efforts to free Oscar Jenkins. Austria's JJ wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Philippine News: COMELEC has officially proclaimed the 12 senators elected at the recent midterm elections; Filipino Canadian Justin Simporios wins record $80 million in Canada's lottery. SBS Filipino 18/05/2025 09:48 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino 📲 Catch up episodes and stories – Visit or stream on , , , and
