Comelec: Special automated elections in Cavite 7th district set for February 2023

The special elections in Cavite's 7th Congressional District to fill the seat vacated by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla will be conducted in February 2023, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Garcia said Thursday.

Garcia said that this special election will be automated so as to lessen the poll body's expenses. Comelec will utilize the vote-counting machines (VCM) used in the May 2022 elections.

“‘Yung mga aktibidades katulad ng filing of candidacy, pinaplano nating gawin din ng Disyembre ng taong ito,” he said in a press conference.

(We plan to conduct other activities like the filing of candidacy in December of this year.)

Garcia said that if only one aspirant files a certificate of candidacy, he or she will be automatically proclaimed winner and the special elections will thus not push through, citing the Republic Act 8295 or an act providing for the proclamation of a lone candidate for any elective office in a special election.

“Take note, ‘pag isa lang po ang nag-file ng candidacy, we will proclaim immediately that candidate. Wala nang eleksyon,” he said.

(Take note, if only one will file the candidacy, we will proclaim that candidate immediately. There will be no more elections.)

In July, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling on the Comelec to conduct a special election in the seventh district of Cavite after Remulla, the elected congressman in the said locality, was appointed Justice secretary.

Garcia added that the Comelec is also eyeing to conduct two more plebiscites before the year ends—one to ratify the conversion of the municipality of Baliwag, Bulacan into a component city; and another to ratify the conversion of the City of San Jose Del Monte into a highly urbanized city. — BM, GMA News