Sen. Leila de Lima. ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Commission on Elections is ready to provide the statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE) of embattled Sen. Leila de Lima should it be needed in any investigation.
Comelec chairperson Andres Bautista noted that the SOCE is a public document, and that the poll body is prepared to submit the document should there be a need for it.
鈥淭he SOCE is a public document, so if this is asked of us by the committees in the House of Representatives or the Senate, we鈥檙e ready to furnish them a copy,鈥� he said on Friday.
Bautista issued the statement after convicted inmates presented before the House of Representatives claimed that they were involved in raising funds for De Lima鈥檚 senatorial campaign.
In particular, convicted inmate and drug lord Herbert Colanggo alleged that money from illegal drugs was used in the senator鈥檚 campaign kitty, adding that De Lima received millions each month.
Candidates and political parties were required by the Comelec to submit their SOCE 30 days after election day.
De Lima鈥檚 SOCE showed that she had a total contribution of P86,831,095; with expenditures pegged at P88,153,300.
In an interview with reporters, Bautista said the Comelec cannot evaluate the SOCE that De Lima submitted to them, beyond what the law mandates.
鈥淭he Comelec does not know who are the drug pushers or drug kings, we don鈥檛 have a list of that. We don鈥檛 receive any confidential information on that. So we don鈥檛 have the technical know-how to make that determination,鈥� he said.