The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued a firm directive requiring all political candidates to declare every campaign contribution they receive, regardless of whether donors wish to remain anonymous.
Strict Declaration Requirements
In a clear statement made on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, Comelec Chairman George Garcia emphasized that all campaign contributions must be properly documented in the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCE). The election chief made this declaration during a phone interview where he addressed questions surrounding Senator Rodante Marcoleta's campaign finance reporting.
"Lahat po dapat declared (sa Soce)," Garcia stated unequivocally, referring to the legal requirement under the Omnibus Election Code that mandates all candidates and political parties to file "full, true, and itemized" SOCEs following elections.
Marcoleta's Controversial Filing
The Comelec chairman confirmed he will personally review Senator Marcoleta's SOCE for the May 2025 polls, saying "Tingnan ko muna Soce niya." This scrutiny comes after Marcoleta's filing revealed a significant discrepancy that has raised eyebrows among election watchdogs and the public alike.
According to official documents, Marcoleta reported receiving zero campaign contributions (P0) while simultaneously declaring campaign expenditures totaling P112,857,951.44. This massive spending figure becomes particularly questionable when compared to the senator's Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth, which showed a net worth of only P51.9 million.
Marcoleta attempted to explain this inconsistency by stating that friends had indeed donated funds for his campaign but he intentionally did not declare these contributions to honor donor requests for anonymity.
Watchdog Demands Investigation
Election monitoring group Kontra Daya has called for a thorough investigation into Marcoleta's case, arguing that the senator's explanation fails to justify what appears to be a violation of election laws.
Kontra Daya convener Danilo Arao stressed that "it is proper for the likes of him to be investigated and to be penalized for what he has done." He emphasized that the Comelec should treat this matter seriously since Marcoleta's own statements suggest the SOCE form was not truthfully completed.
"Marcoleta's explanation raises more questions than answers," Arao noted. "He claims not to violate any laws, but he should remember that filling out official documents should be truthful."
Arao pointed to the explicit declaration on the SOCE form that "all information contained herein are true and correct," arguing that "declaring zero contributions is neither true nor correct" based on Marcoleta's admission that he received donations from friends.
The poll watchdog maintains that using donor anonymity as an excuse for non-disclosure undermines the transparency requirements essential to maintaining integrity in the electoral process.
