Comelec set to post Antipolo congressional bets' COCs

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will begin uploading on its website on Wednesday, February 11, the certificates of candidacy (COC) of the seven aspirants vying for the House seat of the second district of Antipolo City.

"Unang-una ngayong araw na ito, maaaring mailabas ng Comelec sa aming website ang lahat ng COCs ng pitong mga kandidato para kahit paano, may alam ang mga kababayan natin sa ikalawang distrito kung sinu-sino ang mga tumatakbo na kandidato bilang representante ng distrito," Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia told reporters.

(We may start posting the COCs of the seven bets on our website today. We will do this so voters in Antipolo's second district will know who are vying to be their representative.)

"'Yan ay commitment ng Comelec na lagi ilalagay sa website ang COCs," Garcia said.

(That is the Comelec's commitment.)

The posting of the COCs comes on the eve of the election period for the March 14, 2026 special polls.

According to Garcia, some personal details will be redacted on the COCs to protect the privacy of the candidates.

"Maganda 'yan para mas nasasala, nakikita, nas-screen ng lahat ang kandidato at para kahit paano, 'yung mga hindi nagsasabi ng totoo ay malaman ng Comelec," he said.

(We post this so the public can screen and filter the candidates. They can also inform us if someone indicated false information.)

Seven candidates filed their COCs for the March 14 special elections for the House seat vacated following the passing of Antipolo City 2nd District Representative Romeo Acop.

They are:

• Philip Conrad Acop
• Ma. Trinidad Galang
• Dandin Infante
• Reden Llaga
• Nathaniel Lobigas
• Lorenzo Sumulong III
• Irvin Paulo Tapales

Sumulong and Tapales are incumbent city councilors. During the May 2025 elections, Sumulong ranked first with 98,048 votes, while Tapales was eighth with 85,271 votes.

The Comelec has set the campaign period for the vacant House seat from February 12 to March 12. The election period, meanwhile, will start from February 12 until March 29, 2026.

Garcia reminded the candidates of the campaigning prohibitions, including vote-buying and vote-selling, as well as the guidelines on illegal campaign materials.

"Inaasahan natin na hindi mainit pero masigasig ang mga kandidato kasi magkakakilala naman sila," he added.

(We are not expecting the special elections to be intense since candidates in special elections are usually acquainted with each other.)

Acop, 78, passed away on December 20, 2025 after succumbing to a heart attack. His political party, the National Unity Party (NUP), previously said the Comelec is mandated by law to hold a special election to fill his House seat.

Under Republic Act 6645, the Comelec must 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. — VDV, GMA Integrated News