COC filing for Cavite's 4th District seat set for July 15-17, 2026

DASMARIÑAS, CAVITE — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for Cavite’s 4th District Representative special elections from July 15-17, 2026.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia made the announcement on Thursday during the poll body’s coordination meeting with stakeholders in Dasmariñas City.

Meanwhile, the election period will begin on July 30.

Garcia earlier announced that a special election will be held for the vacant legislative seat of Cavite’s 4th District on August 29.

In the meeting, Garcis said the poll body is realigning its budget to fund the special polls.

“Siguro pwedeng malapit na aming gawin, base sa aming pagpupulong, ay mag re-realign kami ng budget mula sa existing budget,” Garcia said.

(The closest thing we could do is to realign our budget from our existing budget.)

“Magtitipid kami. Kasama yan sa contingency (we will save money as part of our contingency),” he added.

Comelec said it needs P191 million funding for the special polls.

In a Palace Press briefing earlier today, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that according to the Department of Budget and Management, the poll body has remaining funds for this year.

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

“Walang pang halos savings. Magkaka-savings 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 mag-deklara 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.)

The poll body is also requesting to make August 29 a holiday to allow more voters to cast their votes.

Comelec also plans to proclaim the winning cadidate on the following day, August 30, Garcia said.

Meanwhile, Dasmariñas Vice Mayor Elpidio Barzaga III said he has an idea of who will run for the district representative seat, but did not go into details.

“I think it's best to hear it not only from my family members but from all the candidates who plan to run. It's best to hear it from themselves na lang in respect for them, their political strategy,” said Barzaga, who is the brother of expelled lawmaker Francisco "Kiko" Barzaga.

“So, I have a idea po on who will be running but I think it's best to hear it from the candidates themselves when they wanted to declare it,” he added.

The vice mayor made the statement when asked if anyone from his family will run for the vacated seat.

The legislative position became vacant after the House of Representatives expelled Kiko 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:

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

—RF, GMA News