Comelec faces P8.5-M funding gap for Batanes special polls

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) needs an estimated P8.5 million to hold a special election in Batanes following the death of Representative Ciriaco Gato Jr., but must reallocate internal savings to fund the vote, poll chief George Erwin Garcia said Wednesday.

Garcia confirmed during a radio interview that Comelec is eyeing 19 December to fill the vacant congressional seat after Gato died 21 September. Batanes has approximately 14,000 registered voters.

“We estimate that we will spend P8.5 million,” Garcia said, acknowledging that the agency is unlikely to receive a supplemental budget from the executive branch to cover the cost.

Garcia cited that Comelec will review its current budget to source the funds internally by identifying savings across existing programs and projects.

Citing a 2025 Supreme Court ruling, Garcia emphasized that the commission is legally required to conduct special elections to fill legislative vacancies regardless of funding availability, adding that the poll body does not require congressional authorization to schedule the vote between 60 and 90 days from the date of the vacancy.

The executive branch previously denied Comelec’s requests for supplemental funding for earlier special elections in Antipolo City and Dasmariñas City.

The Antipolo seat was filled by Representative Philip Acop following the death of his father, Representative Romeo Acop. In Dasmariñas, Representative Jennifer Barzaga won the special election to succeed her son, former Representative Francisco Barzaga Jr., who was removed by the House of Representatives for disorderly behavior and code of conduct violations.