DUMAGUETE CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the stage for the upcoming special elections in Negros Oriental’s third congressional district, scheduled for December 9. As part of the preparations, the provincial Comelec office announced that it would start accepting certificates of candidacy (COCs) from November 6 to 8.
According to Philippines News Agency, the acting provincial election supervisor, in a briefing with the Philippine News Agency on Friday, the election body is poised for the special electoral process. He added that while operational readiness is in place, the Comelec is still awaiting final instructions regarding the forms for COC filing from its central office. The election period is expected to commence on November 9, with the calendar of activities adhering to the guidelines of Comelec Resolution No. 10945, enacted last August.
The necessity for special elections arose following the expulsion of former Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. from the House of Representatives. Teves faced expulsion due to several issues, including habitual absences, his failure to return to the Philippines, and allegations of his involvement in the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo on March 4. In Teves’s absence, the role of caretaker for the third district was assigned to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Labaria mentioned that deliberations are ongoing to determine whether the Comelec control during the elections will be limited to the third district or encompass the entire province of Negros Oriental. The district, which consists of several municipalities and cities including Valencia and Bayawan City, is home to over 300,000 registered voters.
In a related development, Comelec chairman George Garcia indicated at a press conference in Manila that they are considering placing the entire third district under Comelec jurisdiction. An official decision on this matter is expected to be reached in the following week.
Furthermore, Garcia called upon Congress to enact legislation that will clearly delineate the non-partisan nature of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, aiming to supersede a Supreme Court ruling that currently allows for political endorsements at the barangay level.
The discussion on election conduct follows the recent 2023 barangay and youth elections, which drew scrutiny over the political involvement of local officials, including accusations leveled against mayors.
In the meantime, Lieutenant Stephen Polinar, spokesperson for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, reported that the security personnel deployed for the BSKE and the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days have started to redeploy to their respective units, as the province has remained largely peaceful.