By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
Nine out of the 12 winning senatorial bets in the May 12 midterm polls spent more than P100 million each for their campaign activities.
Based on the Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) submitted by the winning senatorial bets and released by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Senator Camille Villar topped the list, having spent P179,642,664 during the entire campaign period from Feb. 11 to May 10.
She is followed by Senators Lito Lapid and Pia Cayetano, who spent P163,580,568 and P162,014,961, respectively.
Senator Imee Marcos is in fourth place (P139,298,208), followed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa (P128,728,961) and Senator Bong Go (P127,313,761).
The others who spent more than P100 million during the 90-day campaign period are Senators Francis Pangilinan (P119,400,972), Rodante Marcoleta (P112,857,951), and Erwin Tulfo (P110,358,697).
Meanwhile, the members of the higher chamber who spent less than P100 million are Senators Tito Sotto (P96,638,901) and Bam Aquino (P86,150,395).
The senator with the lowest expenditure during the campaign period is Panfilo Lacson (P18,955,871).
The SOCEs released by the poll body also showed that Cayetano received the highest amount of contributions at P169,623,644.
Other senatorial bets who received support are Dela Rosa with P160,601,884; Lapid (P160,300,000); Villar (P159,640,000); Marcos (P138,500,000); Go (P125,942,386); Tulfo (P120,130,000); Pangilinan (P119,400,972); Lacson (P118,510,777); Aquino (P86,962,657); and Sotto (P35,500,000).
On the other hand, Marcoleta declared that he did not receive any contributions.
The law allows each candidate to spend P3 per registered voter. There were more than 68 million registered voters for this year’s mid-term elections.
