COMELEC sets special polls for Cavite 4th District seat on August 29, 2026

The special election for the vacant legislative seat of Cavite’s 4th District is scheduled on August 29, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced on Wednesday.

COMELEC chairperson George Garcia said the poll body will hold a meeting with security forces, the local government unit (LGU), and other concerned agencies in Cavite about the special election.

“Hinahanda na namin ang paglalabas ng calendar of activities bukas, kung kailan magsisimula ang filing ng candidacy, kailan magsisimula ‘yung campaign period, election period, gun ban, at mga iba pang importanteng aktibidad patungo sa August 29 special election,” Garcia said.

(We are preparing to issue a calendar of activities tomorrow, on when the filing of candidacy will star, when will the campaign period begin, gun ban, and other important activities for the August 29 special election.)

The poll body is seeking assistance from the executive branch for the needed P191 million funding for the special election.

Garcia said the COMELEC’s finance department is reviewing its own funds to bankroll the special poll, which will be a manual election.

“Walang pang halos savings. Magkakasavings ka lamang kapag natapos na ang taon, at the same time, pag natapos na ‘yung aktibidad,” Garcia said. “Ngayon, ang ongoing procurement namin, and therefore hindi pa ito yung tamang panahon na magdeklara ng savings.”

(There are no savings yet. You only have savings once the year is over and, at the same time, once the activities are completed. Right now, our procurements are ongoing, so this is not the right time to declare any savings.)

“Kung savings ‘yung nakaraang election, wala po halos kaming savings kasi national and local election 2025,” he added.

(If you’re talking about savings from the previous election, we hardly have any because the next national and local elections came in 2025.)

There are 450,000 registered voters in Cavite’s 4th District, Garcia said.

The legislative seat became vacant after the House of Representatives expelled Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga for disorderly behavior and conduct unbecoming of a House member, including repeated failure to fulfill his duties as a lawmaker.

House ethics panel chairperson and 4Ps party-list Rep. JC Abalos said expulsion was the only punishment appropriate for Barzaga since he failed to change his ways despite serving two sets of 60-day suspensions without pay.

Barzaga was expelled due to the following acts:

• Linking his then party-mates in the National Union Party (NUP) and tycoon Enrique Razon to corruption without presenting documents or corroborating accounts
• Mocking his fellow House members by likening them to crocodiles in photos posted on social media
• Accusing his fellow House members of involvement in the death of a local official who died due to accidental firing
• Being disruptive during House plenary session by suddenly going on livestream to utter slanderous remarks, if not creating a commotion, among others.

— JMA, GMA News