MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to file charges against 36 candidates who were found to have overspent in the 2010 and 2013 elections.
According to Republic Act 7166 or the Synchronized National and Local Elections Law, candidates who belong to a political party are only allowed to spend P3 per registered voter.
Meanwhile, independent candidates are allowed to spend P5 per voter.
Among those found to have overspent, 3 are incumbent mayors: Gody Cardenas of Bucloc, Abra; Darell dela Flor of Belison, Antique; and Ibrahim Macadato of Butig, Lanao del Sur.
Macadato spent nearly 1,500% over the spending limit allowed by law.
| Incumbent Official (Political Party) |
Town/City | Allowed Expenditures | Amount Spent | % of Excess |
| Mayor Gody Cardenas (LP) | Bucloc, Abra | P5,832 | P10,000 | 71.47% |
| Mayor Darell Dela Flor (LP) | Belison, Antique | P24,912 | P51,000 | 104.72% |
| Mayor Ibrahim Macadato (w/ political party) | Butig, Lanao del Sur | P23,184 | P361,600 | 1,459.70% |
Four losing 2013 candidates also overspent, according to the Comelec:
| Candidate (Political Party) |
Position | Town/City | Allowed Expenditures | Amount Spent | % of Excess |
| Mario B. Buyaccan (LP) | Mayor | Hingyon, Ifugao | P24,522 | P80,000 | 226.24% |
| Felipe F. Ferriol (LP) | Vice Mayor | Concepcion, Romblon | P8,706 | P15,000 | 72.30% |
| Jose A. Norella, Jr. (LP)* | Mayor | Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro | P56,835 | P90,000 | 58.35% |
| Baltazar V. Sinajon (NPC) | Vice Mayor | Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte | P44,175 | P70,000 | 58.46% |
| * – For filing of information | |||||
The Comelec prepared cases against 40 candidates, but 4 of them had to be dismissed due to the respondents’ deaths. All of them ran in 2010:
- Mayor Norodin M. Matalam (Lakas-CMD), Pagalungan, Maguindanao
- Tony A. Dupiano (NP), mayoralty candidate, Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya
- Rumel A. Ocan (PMP), vice mayoralty candidate, Mercedes, Camarines Norte
- Domingo R. Ontuca (LP), mayoralty candidate, Talalora, Samar
Meanwhile, the following candidates who ran in 2010 exceeded their campaign spending limits. Among them, 12 were elected:
| Candidate (Political Party) |
Position | Town/City | Allowed Expenditures | Amount Spent | % of Excess |
| Diomedes C. Amaroto Sr (Lakas, won) | Mayor | Pio V. Corpuz, Masbate | P41,793 | P200,000 | 378.55% |
| Oliver B. Bag-ayan (Lakas, won) | Vice Mayor | Daguioman, Abra | P3,930 | P20,000 | 408.91% |
| Junevell O. Balandra (Lakas, won) | Mayor | Guipos, Zamboanga del Sur | P40,428 | P85,000 | 110.25% |
| Aida B. Dela Rosa (Lakas, won) | Mayor | Malitbog, Bukidnon | P43,479 | P50,000 | 15.00% |
| Rogelio C. Delapa (NP, won) | Provincial Board Member | Batanes, 3rd District | P13,992 | P38,000 | 171.58% |
| Gima G. Kallahal (Ind., won) | Councilor | Tuburan, Basilan | P28,590 | P150,000 | 424.66% |
| George S. Legaspi (Lakas, won) | Vice Mayor | Loreto, Agusan del Sur | P52,839 | P130,000 | 146.03% |
| Abdul Said U. Lumenda (Ind., won) | Councilor | Rajah Buayan, Maguindanao | P49,285 | P149,428 | 203.19% |
| Romeo P. Magaway (LP, won) | Mayor | Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya | P31,344 | P150,000 | 378.56% |
| Oliver E. Ranque (Lakas, won)* | Mayor | Libagon, Southern Leyte | P25,911 | P101,974 | 293.56% |
| Alberto O. Rediang (LP, won) | Vice Mayor** | Mercedes, Eastern Samar | P12,636 | P55,000 | 335.26% |
| Virginia R. Zacate (Lakas, won) | Mayor | Sulat, Eastern Samar | P29,436 | P76,000 | 158.19% |
| Abdalun Hadjibon Awilun (with political party, lost) | Governor | Basilan | P691,377 | P1,450,000 | 109.73% |
| Proceso P. Balasbas (NP, lost) | Mayor | Mahatao, Batanes | P3,228 | P10,000 | 209.79% |
| Bonifacio R. Billones (Lakas, lost)* | Mayor | Bato, Camarines Sur | P82,425 | P300,000 | 263.97% |
| Rufo T. Cabos (LP, lost) | Councilor | Mercedes, Eastern Samar | P12,636 | P40,000 | 216.56% |
| Glenn Romeo M. Gontang (NP, lost) | Mayor | Gainza, Camarines Sur | P19,002 | P69,116 | 263.73% |
| Maria Riza P. Ledesma (Lakas, lost) | Mayor | Carmen, Agusan del Norte | P39,753 | P130,000 | 227.02% |
| Galao G. Lomioan (PMP, lost) | Mayor | Boliney, Abra | P8,322 | P42,000 | 404.69% |
| Michael Magsaysay (Ind., lost) | Mayor | San Juan, La Union | P101,735 | P210,000 | P106.42% |
| Narzal B. Mallares (Aksyon Demokratiko, lost) | Representative | Antique, Lone District | P865,014 | P2,270,000 | 162.42% |
| Alex M. Manlapaz (LP, lost)* | Mayor | Apalit, Pampanga | P155,256 | P355,000 | 128.66% |
| Florencio A. Narido Jr (LP, lost) | Representative | Camiguin, Lone District | P171,363 | P200,000 | 16.71% |
| Lydia Ramos (Aksyon, lost) | Representative | Cagayan, 2nd District | P500,817 | P780,000 | 55.75% |
| Dante T. Reyes (PMP, lost) | Mayor | Batan, Aklan | P56,514 | P325,000 | 475.08% |
| Leopoldo C. Tomas (NPC, lost) | Representative | Nueva Ecija, 2nd District | P848,580 | P970,000 | 14.31% |
| Carlos Valdez, Jr. (NPC, lost) | Governor | Sultan Kudarat | P1,135,056 | P2,150,000 | 89.42% |
| Eduardo K. Veloso (NP, lost) | Representative | Leyte, 2nd District | P318.354 | P356,999.52 | 12.14% |
| Rey E. Yamaro (LP, lost) | Vice Mayor | Sierra Bullones, Bohol | P46,311 | P100,000 | 115.93% |
| * – For filing of information ** – Listed as Mayor in source document |
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– Rappler.com
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