MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday announced the special election to fill the vacated seat of expelled Negros Oriental 3rd district Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr. will be on the second week of December.
“Special election in Negros [Oriental] is on Dec. 9, 2023,” Comelec chair George Garcia told reporters through Viber.
Dec. 9 falls on a Saturday, with voting hours set from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
According to Comelec, aspiring candidates may file their certificate of candidacy (COC) from Nov. 6 to 8.
The end of the COC filing will mark the start of the election period from Nov. 9 to Dec. 24 where a gun ban will also implemented by the poll body.
The official campaign period is from Nov. 9 and to Dec. 7.
Meanwhile, the release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds, construction of public works, delivery of materials for public works and the appointment or hiring of new employees, creation of new positions, filling of new positions, promotion or granting of salary increases, remuneration or privileges will be prohibited from Nov. 9 to Dec. 8.
“Upon close of voting, the counting and canvassing of votes and proclamation of winning candidates will immediately follow,” Comelec said in a statement.
The poll body has also set the last day of the filing of Statements of Contributions and Expenditures on Jan. 8, 2024.
Based on Comelec data, Negros Oriental’s third legislative district has a total of 301,264 registered voters.
The House of Representatives voted to expel Teves from the chamber last Aug. 16.
Teves is accused of being the mastermind in the assassination of Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo last March. (Zacarian Sarao © Philippine Daily Inquirer)
