Comelec eyes 19 December special election in Batanes

The Commission on Elections is considering holding a special election in Batanes on 19 December to fill the congressional seat left vacant following the death of Rep. Ciriaco Gato Jr.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said Tuesday that the poll body intends to conduct a special election and will bring the proposed date before the Comelec en banc next week.

“We will conduct a special election,” Garcia said.

Garcia said 19 December falls on a Saturday, which could make it easier for Batanes’ roughly 30,000 registered voters to participate.

“Dahil walang pasok ‘yun, at least ‘yung Saturday na ‘yun may pag-asa makaboto lahat,” he said.

Gato died in Manila on Monday, 21 September.

Garcia said the Constitution requires a special election for a congressional vacancy to be held within the prescribed period after the vacancy arises.

The Comelec chief also assured that budget limitations would not prevent the poll body from holding the election, citing a Supreme Court ruling that lack of funds is not a valid reason to forego an election.

“Sinabi ng Supreme Court hindi dahilan ang kawalan ng pondo para hindi magsagawa ng halalan,” Garcia said.

The Comelec is also considering reusing some election supplies prepared for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections should those polls be postponed.

Garcia said materials such as indelible ink, pens and thumbprint tape could be redirected for use in the Batanes special election.

“Ang problema na lang namin ay ang honoraria ng mga teachers at pang-mobilization ng mga tauhan namin, at siyempre ‘yung pang-imprenta ng mga balota at iba pang election paraphernalia,” he said.

The Comelec has yet to formally approve the 19 December schedule, with the proposal still subject to deliberation by the commission en banc.