Negros Oriental special polls canceled

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has canceled the December 9 special election in the third district of Negros Oriental, which was supposed to fill the seat of expelled lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr.

This comes after the poll body adopted the recommendation of its law department and a House resolution seeking to postpone the special polls. 

“This afternoon, the Comelec en banc adopted the recommendation of our law department, which is the House Resolution 136 calling for the conduct of special elections in the Third Legislative District of the province of Negros Oriental is deemed recalled and abandoned upon the passage of House Resolution 154,” Garcia told reporters.

“Therefore, in recognition of the legislative power of Congress, the Law Department and the [Comelec] en banc decided to cancel the conduct of special elections in the Third Legislative District of the province of Negros Oriental and for the Commission to discontinue its ongoing preparation for the said special election,” Garcia added. 

House Resolution 154 was adopted by the House on November 7, a day before Pryde Henry Teves filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for his brother's previous post.

Arnie Teves was expelled from the House of Representatives due to disorderly behavior and his continued absence in the House proceedings despite an expired travel authority. 

Arnie Teves is also facing murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder charges in relation to the killing of Negors Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Both Arnie and Henry have been tagged as "terrorists" by the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) in relation to the killings and harassments in Negros Oriental.

Pryde Henry, meanwhile, said that he will appeal his designation as terrorist. —VAL, GMA Integrated News