House urges Comelec to hold special election to fill seat vacated by Remulla

The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a resolution calling on the Commission on Elections to conduct a special election in the seventh district of Cavite to fill the seat vacated by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Introduced by Speaker Martin Romualdez and two other lawmakers, House Resolution 100, which certified the existence of a vacancy and urged the Comelec to hold a special election, was approved via voice vote.

Under Republic Act 6645, the Comelec is mandated to conduct a special election if a vacancy occurs in the Senate at least 18 months or in the House of Representatives at least one year before the next regular election for members of Congress.

Republic Act 7166 provides that the poll body shall call and hold a special election to fill the vacancy not earlier than 60 days nor later than 90 days after the occurrence of the vacancy.

The House made the move a day after it designated Romualdez as caretaker of the legislative district.

Sought for comment, Romualdez's office said in a statement that the Speaker "will remain as caretaker until after a new representative in the seventh district of Cavite is elected."

Remulla's House seat became vacant after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. appointed him to head the Department of Justice. —VBL, GMA News