Seven seeking Acop’s seat in special poll

Seven individuals have filed their certificates of candidacy for the vacant second congressional district of Antipolo City, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said as of 7 February.

Those who filed their candidacies are Dandin Infante, Reden Llaga, LJ Sumulong, incumbent city councilor; Maria Trinidad Cafirma; Bong Acop; Nathaniel Lobigas; and Paulo Tapales, incumbent city councilor.

A special election will be conducted by the Comelec following the death of Rep. Romeo Acop in December 2025.

The poll body said it will again implement its early voting hours program for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the special election scheduled on 14 March 2026.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the early voting period from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. will be exclusive to these vulnerable sectors.

“On 14 March, we will once again implement the successful program of early voting hours. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women can exclusively vote from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.,” Garcia said.

He said more than four million senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women benefited from the program during the May 2025 midterm elections.

Early voting

Garcia added that Comelec will also enforce the early voting hours program in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on 2 November 2026.

“We will no longer have a distinction whether it’s a manual or automated election. We will have an early voting hours program,” Garcia said.

He also said that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the second district of Antipolo City will be allowed to vote in the special election.

Garcia said Comelec has coordinated with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to make arrangements for qualified PDLs who are registered voters in the district.

“For our humanitarian act and to show that no one should be left behind in exercising the right to vote, they will also be allowed to vote as long as they are qualified and registered voters in the second district of Antipolo,” Garcia said.