MANILA, Philippines — The period of filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the special elections in the lone district of Dasmariñas, Cavite is scheduled from July 15-17, 2026, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.
The special elections will be held on August 29, 2026 following the expulsion of former lawmaker Kiko Barzaga by the House of Representatives over his “disruptive” and “disorderly” behavior last June 2.
“For your information in advance, I would like to tell you that the filing of candidacy will happen by July 15 to 17. Within that short period of time,” Comelec chair George Erwin Garcia said during a coordination meeting in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
READ: Comelec sets special polls in Barzaga’s district in Cavite Aug. 29
Garcia noted the tight schedule they have for the conduct of elections, considering that they are also preparing for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections and the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections this year.
He also said that there are a total of 448,883 registered voters in the district, with 43 voting centers, and 3,166 established voting precincts.
“That is the reason why we asked for your time so we can at least ask for help in preparing for the special elections in the fourth district of (Dasmariñas) Cavite,” Garcia added.
He then shared that the Comelec is eyeing to proclaim the winner of the special elections by early morning of August 30, 2026. He said that the early voting hours from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. are for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, while the regular voting period will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Premature campaigning
Garcia said that, as the elections will be done manually, the Peñera doctrine will not be applied to the candidates. This means that the aspiring legislative representatives will already be considered candidates on the day they file their COCs.
READ: Comelec: Barzaga may still run in special polls despite expulsion
Garcia noted that the candidates will not be allowed to engage in any campaign-related activities from July 17 to July 29, as premature campaigning is not allowed.
“The Comelec will be very very strict when it comes to the issue of vote-buying, abuse of state resources, and such other prohibitions,” Garcia said.
“This is because, first, the commission’s focus will be in Dasmariñas, we would like to establish peace and order, and at the same time, ensure that all voters will be able to vote,” he added.
He also warned that candidates proven to have engaged in such election offenses may face disqualification.
Comelec budget
Garcia on Wednesday said that he had already written to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for help to source P191 million funds needed for the election. He expressed that the Comelec does not have enough budget for the elections as it cannot determine yet how much savings it has for 2026.
As there is a challenge to source for funds, Garcia said that they will not compromise the honoraria that will be given to the teachers who will serve as electoral board members on the day of the election.
“In all elections under the present leadership, the Comelec en banc fights for appropriate honoraria for our teachers. The regular honoraria are not enough,” he said.
Garcia also assured the residents of the lone district of Dasmariñas, Cavite, that the poll body will exhaust its means to hold the elections.
“This is not about the money. But this is about the opportunity to reiterate that we have the power of vote in our hands?” he expressed. /cb
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