5 perpetually disqualified from holding public office

THE Commission on Elections has perpetually disqualified from holding public office five candidates who lost during the last two elections due to their failure to file their Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs).

In a decision dated May 29, 2024, the Comelec First Division “resolved” to perpetually disqualify from holding public office Emilio Viliran Arnaez of Tanjay, Negro Oriental and Giovanni Jino Hilario Alcantara; Luisito Castillo Angeles of Bocaue, Bulacan; Ma. Brenda Amosco of Arteche, Eastern Samar; and Gene Tomas Alamani of Dinalungan, Aurora.

The poll body also ordered them to pay fines.

The Comelec said Arnaez failed to file his SOCEs when he ran for the Sanggunian Panlungsod during the 2019 elections and when he ran as mayor in Tanjay City during the 2022 elections.

The Comelec also ordered Arnaez to pay the administrative fine of P15,000 for the first offense and P40,000 for the second offense.

Alcantara did not file his SOCEs when he ran for the Sangguniang Bayan in Cainta, Rizal during the 2019 and 2022 elections. He was ordered to pay the administrative fine of P10,000 for the first offense and P20,000 for the second offense.

Angeles ran for the Sangguniang Bayan of the Second District of Bocaue in the 2007 and 2013 elections while Amosco also ran for the Sangguniang Bayan in the 2013 and 2022 elections. Alamani sought election as Sangguniang Bayan member in his hometown during the 2010 and 2022 elections.

The poll body also ordered Angeles to pay an administrative fine of P2,000 for the first offense and P20,000 for the first offense.

Amosco was fined P10,000 for the first offense and P20,000 for the second offense while Alamani was ordered to pay fines of P2,000 for the first offense and P20,000 for the second offense.

The cases against them were filed by the Comelec Political Finance and Affairs Department.