AHEAD of the May 2025 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has decided to reshape and reorganize its Campaign Finance Office (CFO), which monitors campaign spending and donations of candidates and political parties, and rebrand it as the Political Finance and Affairs Department (PFAD).
In a statement, the Comelec said it has decided to expand the mandate of the CFO from monitoring campaign donations and spending to also include the validation of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) submitted by candidates and political parties.
“The establishment of a reorganized department will help strengthen the credibility of the elections, institutionalize reforms on electoral parties and campaign finance, and strengthen accountability mechanisms,” said the Comelec.
It said the PFAD will be comprised of three divisions, namely the Party Affairs and Registry division, the Campaign Finance division, and the Legal Compliance division.
Based on the decision of the Commission en banc, the new office will be the primary unit responsible for the enforcement and implementation of all administrative regulations and legislative measures pertaining to electoral parties and campaign finance.
It will also serve as the registration office for the proprietary rights of accredited political parties.
PFAD is also empowered to initiate complaints against violators of laws pertaining to campaign finance and electoral parties, as well as petitions for perpetual disqualification to hold public office, and to conduct fact-finding inquiries or preliminary examinations as may be directed by the Commission.
It shall also have the power to monitor the fundraising and spending activities of candidates and electoral parties.
PFAD is also empowered to conduct field inspections of headquarters/offices and open the books and records of electoral parties.
It was back in 2013 when the Comelec created the Campaign Finance Unit, which was the predecessor of the CFO.
