The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) admitted that the timeline will be tight if the special election is officially held to fill the vacant seat of expelled Cavite 4th district Representative Kiko Barzaga.

According to COMELEC Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, the poll body has only a grace period of at least 60 days but not more than 90 days from the declaration of vacancy to the lower chamber.

“At tayo po'y binigyan lamang ng ating saligang batas ng hindi po maaga nang animnapung (60) araw at hindi po lalampas sa siyamnapung (90) araw matapos ang pagkakaroon ng pagbakante diyan sa mababang kapulungan. Nangangahulugan ang animnapung (60) araw po ay August 2 and 90 days naman po, siyamnapung araw ay September 2.” he explained

[“Our Constitution only gives us not earlier than sixty (60) days and not longer than ninety (90) days after the vacancy in the lower house. This means the 60-day mark falls on August 2, while the 90-day is on September 2.”]

Because of this, Garcia said that the election could likely take place on August 22 or 29 if the 60-day window timeframe is used as a basis.

“Kung kaya naman base sa inisyal na usapan natin, maaaring isagawa natin ang halalan kung hindi po August 22 ay maaari gawin natin ito ng August 29,”

[Therefore, based on our initial discussions, we might hold an election on either August 22 or August 29.”]

He also hopes that it won't extend to September, as the Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election is scheduled in the same month, followed by the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election in November.

“Pero dapat hindi po sana ito papasok sa buwan ng September sapagkat diyan na po kasi yung ating pong Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election ng September 14 at syempre yung ating barangay and SK election naman ng November 2.”

[“But we hope this does not fall in the month of September because that is when we have Bangsamoro Parliamentary Election on September 14 and of course our barangay SK election on November 2.”]