Comelec: Negros Oriental special election to fill Arnie Teves' seat likely in Dec. 2023

The special election in the third legislative district of Negros Oriental may be held in December this year, following the expulsion of former representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Wednesday.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the poll body may not be able to include the necessary adjustments for the special election in the province in time for the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) slated on October 30.

“Hindi na po aabot sa barangay at SK elections… Mahihirapan na po. After na po. Kung sakali, ang pinakamaaga, mga December ng taong ito namin magagawa ang special election sa Negros Oriental,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(The special election will not make it in time for the barangay and SK elections... It will be difficult for us. It should be after. The earliest we can hold the special election in Negros Oriental is in December this year.)

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved a resolution calling on the Comelec to hold a special election in Negros Oriental to fill the seat left by Teves.

The former congressman was expelled for disorderly conduct and his continued absence despite an expired travel authority.

Garcia said the Comelec has yet to receive the resolution from the House regarding its call for special elections in the province.

“May posibilidad kasi katulad nu'ng nangyari sa Valenzuela nu'ng ma-appoint si Secretary Rex Gatchalian [as Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary], hindi nagpatawag ng special elections ang House. So kung kagabi ay nagkabotohan, hihintayin namin ‘yun,” he added.

(In Valenzuela, when Secretary Rex Gatchalian was appointed [as Department of Social Welfare and Development secretary], the House did not call for special elections. So if they had a voting last night, we will wait for the resolution.)

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.

Teves, citing threats to his and his family’s life, has refused to return to the country since March after the Department of Justice linked him to the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

Teves has denied involvement in the crime.

He, however, has been indicted for murder and other related charges over killings in Negros Oriental in 2019. —KG, GMA Integrated News