Comelec still waiting for House communication on Cavite special polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still waiting for the official communication from the House of Representatives before preparing for the special polls in the seventh district of Cavite to fill the seat vacated by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

Acting Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco explained that under Republic Act 6645, the first step to conduct the special elections is for Congress to transmit the certification of permanent vacancy along with a House resolution calling for the conduct of the special polls.

"So, sa ngayon po hindi pa po namin ito natatanggap pero inaasahan po namin na darating na po ito sa mga susunod na araw," Laudiangco said in a press conference.

(We have yet to receive it but we expect that the House will send it in the coming days.)

In conducting a special election, Laudiangco said the Comelec will be implementing timelines for certain activities, similar to what they do in regular elections, such as the filing of certificate of candidacies and a short campaign period, among others.

However, the Comelec en banc has yet to decide whether to hold a manual or automated elections considering its cost.

"As to whether we are conducting a manual or automated elections, that has yet to be determined or decided upon by the Commission en banc dahil ang titingnan po natin dito viable ba or feasible ba 'yung paggawa ng automated elections given na sa isang distrito lamang ito ng Cavite (because we will be looking at the viability or feasibility of an automated elections given that it will be conducted in only one district of Cavite)," he said.

"Kasi baka naman po masyadong malaki ang ating gagastahin kung mago-automated elections tayo samantalang isang distrito lamang ng Cavite ang ating ika-conduct ng special elections at isang posisyon lamang," he added.

(The cost might be too big to conduct an automated elections considering that it is only in one district and for one position.)

Last Wednesday, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling on the Comelec to conduct a special election in the seventh district of Cavite.

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