Winner of Antipolo special polls might be proclaimed by Sunday —Comelec

Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Erwin Garcia said Saturday that the winner for the House seat for Antipolo City's second district will probably be proclaimed on Sunday.

“Magka-canvass po ang board of canvassers hanggang bukas ng madaling araw o kaya hanggang bukas ng umaga. At malamang-lamang po bago mag-11 a.m., ay may proklamasyon tayong nanalong kongresista ng ikalawang distrito ng Antipolo,” Garcia said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(The board of canvassers will canvas until dawn or until tomorrow morning. Probably just before 11 a.m., we might have a proclamation of the winning congressman of the second district of Antipolo.)

“Maaaring hindi mangyari ngayong gabi na ito sapagkat ito po’y manual na halalan, mano-manong bibilangin ng mga guro natin ang mga boto bagama’t ito’y isang posisyon lamang,” he added, saying that teacher-volunteers will still have to accomplish certain documents to be submitted to the board canvassers up until late Saturday evening.

(The proclamation may not happen tonight because this is a manual election. Teachers will manually count the votes although this is only one position.)

Garcia reported that 3,568 voters turned out for the special polls during the early hours, or 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., which are allotted for senior citizens and persons with disabilities and pregnant women.

“Wala po tayong kahit anong untoward incident o major issue na na-encounter so far sa pagpapaboto natin sa ating mga kababayan sa ikalawang distrito ng Antipolo,” he said.

(We have not encountered any untoward incident or major issue so far in the voting of residents in the second district of Antipolo.)

Garcia said voters will still be allowed to vote even after 3 p.m. or the closing of voting hours, provided they are within the premises of the polling centers.

In January, the Comelec announced it would conduct a special election in the congressional district to fill the House seat vacated following the passing of late Representative Romeo Acop in December 2025.

A total of six candidates are vying for the House seat after LJ Sumulong withdrew his bid. They are Dandin Infante, Reden Llaga, Ma. Trinidad Galang, Philip Conrad Acop, Nathaniel Lobigas, and Irvin Paulo Tapales.

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

Under Republic Act 6645, the Comelec is mandated to 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, meanwhile, 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. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News