File SOCE or risk removal from post

WINNERS in the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will be removed from office and perpetually disqualified from running in future elections and barred from holding any appointive position in the government if they twice fail to file their statement of contributions and expenditures (SOCE), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) warned on Wednesday.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that even if the subject barangay or SK chairman has already assumed office, he or she would be removed and would be succeeded by the top barangay council member or SK council member.