j,tIHltf.' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
I~H';f ~lf ttl I! ,»-I'O"rb:r~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
SEP 17 P 3 :49 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1684 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Republic Act No. 7166, otherwise known as the Synchronized Election Law of 1991, 
contains provisions designed to compel publicity with respect to electoral contributions and 
expenses. 
This bill seeks to address two important areas 'concerning election related expenses: 
First, it proposes to designate the particular Commission on Elections (COMELEC) 
office where the statements of expenditures and contributions in connection with the election are 
to be filed. 
Second, it seeks to correct the flaw in the existing law. At present, the provisions 
decriminalize only the failure to declare election expenses. Failure to file statements of election 
contributions by the contributor required under Sections 98 and 99 of the Omnibus Election 
Code is still classified as an election offense. 
This bill also proposes that all violations of the provisions concerning electoral 
contributions and expenditures be penalized administratively.' 
.. Lw", 4h'~~ ~~ 
QAfY .MIRIAM DEF\}"SOR SJ(NTI¥O 
• This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
I 


.£>~twtl' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
{~tftrt uf t~1? ,)H'ft'tnt\.t 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Reglliar Session 
) 
"13 
SEP 17 P 3 :49 
, 
SENATE 
S.No. 
16M 
RECEIVED tn;-f . 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
2 
AMENDING SECTION 14 OF REP1;BLIC ACT NO. 7166, OTHERWISE KNOWN 
3 
AS THE "SYNCHRONIZED ELECTION LAW OF 1991 ", ON THE PARTICULAR OFFICE 
4 
WHERE CANDIDATES SHALL FILE THEIR STATEMENTS OF ELECTION 
5 
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDIT1;RES AND PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE 
6 
SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF SAID SECTION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
7 
SECTION 1. Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
8 
"SEC. 14. Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. -
Every 
9 
candidate [and treasurer of the political party] shall, within thirty (30) days after 
10 
the day of the election, file DURING REGULAR OFFICE HOURS in 
II 
duplicate, 
PERSONALLY 
OR 
THROUGH 
HIS 
AUTHORIZED 
12 
REPRESENTATIVE with the SAME office[s] of the Commission WHERE 
13 
HE FILED HIS CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY, the full, true, and 
14 
itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the 
15 
election. 
16 
THE 
STATEMENTS 
OF 
CONTRIBUTIONS 
AND 
17 
EXPENDITURES OF TREASURERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES SHALL 
, 
18 
BE FILED PERSONALLY OR BY THEIR DULY AUTHORIZED 
19 
REPRESENTATIVES WITH THE LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE 
20 
COMMISSION IN MANILA. 
21 
THE 
REGIONAL 
ELECTION 
DIRECTOR, 
PROVINCIAL 
22 
ELECTION SUPERVISOR, AND ELECTION OFFICER SHALL KEEP 
23 
DUPLICATE COPIES OF ALL THE STATEMENTS FILED IN THEIR 
24 
RESPECTIVE OFFICES, AND WITHIN TEN (10) DAYS AFTER THE 
1 


, . 
1 
LAST DAY FOR FILING OF THE STATEMENTS, SEND THE 
2 
ORIGINAL COPIES THEREOF TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT OF THE 
3 
COMMISSION. THEREAFTER, THE COMMISSION SHALL PUBLISH 
4 
IN TWO (2) NEWSPAPERS OF GENERAL CIRCULATION, A LIST OF 
5 
ALL THE WINNING CANDIDATES AND POLITICAL PARTIES 
6 
SHOWING THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES IN 
7 
FIGURES. 
8 
No person elected to any public office shall enter upon the duties of his 
9 
office until he has filed the statement of contributions and expenditures herein 
1 0 
required. 
11 
The same prohibition shall apply if the political party which nominated the 
12 
winning candidate fails to file the statements required herein within the period 
13 
prescribed by this Act. 
14 
[Except candidates for the elective barangay office,] If] Failure OF ANY 
15 
WINNING OR LOSING CANDIDATE OR POLITICAL PARTY to file the 
16 
statements or reports in connection with electoral contributions and expenditures 
17 
as required herein AND FAILURE TO POST A BOND, THE AMOUNT OF 
18 
WHICH SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, AT THE 
19 
TIME OF FILING THE CERTIFICATE OF CANDIDACY shall constitute 
20 
an administrative offense for which the offenders shall be liable to pay an 
21 
administrative fine ranging from [One thousand pesos (Pl,OOO.OO) to] Thirty 
22 
thousand pesos (P30,000,00) TO ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS 
23 
(PI00,000,00), at the discretion of the Commission. 
24 
The fine shall be paid within thirty (3) days from receipt of notice of such 
25 
failure, otherwise, it shall be enforced by a writ of execution issued by the 
26 
Commission against the properties ofthe offender." 
2 


I 
SECTION 2. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
2 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
3 
valid and subsisting. 
4 
SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
5 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
6 
with the provisions ofthis Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
7 
SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
8 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
3