Gov. Espino denies non- submission of SOCE to COMELEC

LINGAYEN - Contrary to what COMELEC Chair Sixto Brilliantes announced earlier, Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. vehemently denied the allegation that he did not submit his Statement of Election Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE) during the May 2013 elections.

Gov. Espino submitted his SOCE last June 10.
 Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. (left) shows documents
duly certified by the Comelec Provincial Office in Dagupan City that he
submitted his statement of election contributions and expenditures
(SOCE) last June 10 at 3:40 p.m.  contrary to the
announcement of Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes that the Governor,
along with 400 local officials, including 20 congressmen, failed to submit
his SOCE. With the Governor is Provincial Administrator
Rafael Howard F. Baraan(right). (PIO Photo by Meinard Sadim)

          In a press conference today, December 12, the governor said that Atty. Geraldine Baniqued, Provincial Legal Officer submitted his SOCE to the COMELEC provincial office in Dagupan City last June 10 at 3:40 p.m. as evidenced by the documents duly certified by the office.

          Said documents were subsequently sent to COMELEC Manila in one bunch, together with SOCE of all provincial and congressional candidates in Pangasinan last June 21 through JRS-Dagupan except for Kim Lokin, who submitted her SOCE directly to Manila.

          Atty. Mariano Salas, COMELEC Provincial Chair, in an interview via phone- patch attested that Gov. Espino submitted his SOCE in their office last June 10 noting that deadline of submission was June 13.

          “I hope that this issue will now be laid to rest,” Gov. Espino said.

          The COMELEC has earlier ordered at least 400 local officials, including 20 congressmen and four governors including Gov. Espino and popular movie actress turned politician, Vilma Santos to vacate their posts for failing to submit on time and properly filing their election contributions and expenses to the poll body.

          “I hope that this issue will now be laid to rest,” the governor said as he spoke before members of the media together with Atty. Baniqued to clear the issue. (PIO/Ruby R. Bernardino)