25 candidates will face probe for Election overspending

A total of twenty five nominees in 2010 elections, including Senator JV Ejercito will face a possible election charges for an alleged overspending for campaigns, this was according to Commission on Elections.

Sixto Brillantes the Comelec Chair citing information from poll agency’s campaign finance unit and the law department, said that apart from 25, 44 other candidates were also set to face a preliminary investigation over alleged campaign overspending.

“This is all part of our actions to send a message that we are strict in implementing our election laws, including campaign overspending. You can expect more to come after this,” Brillantes said.

The candidates will be given opportunity to submit a counter—affidavits and supporting documents to prove that they did not exceed its spending limits.

The 24 other respondents are the following :

• Maria Blanca Lokin (2nd Dist., Pangasinan),
• Wilfredo Estorninos (2nd Dist., Samar),
• Orlando Fua and Grace Sumalpong (Siquijor),
• Carlos Diasnes (Batanes),
• Ralph Lantion (Nueva Vizcaya),
• Narzal Mallares (Antique)
• Justinian Licnachan (Ifugao);
• Gubernatorial candidates
• Herminia Ramiro (Misamis Occidental),
• Carlos Valdez Jr. (Sultan Kudarat),
• Manuel Montarde (Catanduanes)
• Harry Meso (Dinagat Islands);

Mayoral candidates

• Jose Norella Jr. (Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro)
• Arsenio Agustin (Marcos, Ilocos Norte)
• Darell de la Flor (Belison, Antique),
• Ernesto Pablo Jr. (Rizal, Occidental Mindoro),
• Rudy Alvarez (Palanas, Masbate),
• Juditas Trinidad (Iguig, Cagayan),
• Archimedes Sales (Pozorrubio, Pangasinan);

Vice mayoral candidates

• Ferdinand Trinidad (Iguig, Cagayan)
• Cesar Tria (Magsaysay, Occidental Mindanao)
• Board member candidate
• Ranjit Ramos Shahani (Pangasinan);

Sangguniang Panglungsod candidate

• Quirino Esguerra Jr. (2nd Dist., Zamboanga Sibugay);

Sangguniang Bayan candidate

• Ephraim Gianan (Virac, Catanduanes).

Comelec has yet to release the 44 other politicians.

Section 100 of Omnibus Election Code provides that “no candidate shall overspend for his election campaign other than the amount set by the law”.

Based on the Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7166 of 1991, every candidate for president and vice president is allowed to spend P10, while other bets may spend P3 for every voter each registered in the constituency where he filed his certificate of candidacy (COC). Their political parties may also spend P5 for them.