The Commission on Elections in the Philippines has permanently barred a perennial aspirant in Isabela province from holding any elective post. Emmanuel Pua, who wants to run in the town of San Mariano, drew the severe sanction after missing required paperwork. The offence was failing to file statements of contributions and expenditures, known as SOCEs, in two straight elections. The missing filings cover the 2019 and 2022 races. Candidates must submit the documents after every campaign to account for the money they raised and spent, and repeated failures carry the heaviest consequences. Pua's repeated bids for office have made him a familiar name in local politics. The perpetual disqualification shuts him out of future contests unless the ruling is somehow reversed.