The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has confirmed that a special election will be held in Cavite, following the expulsion of Representative Kiko Barzaga.

According to COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia, a special election is needed because the vacancy occurred more than a year before 2028 elections.

“Tayo po ay nasa labas pa ng isang taon bago ang susunod na halalan ng 2028. Kung kaya naman kung tutuusin parang lumalabas kakailanganin talaga nating mag-hold ng special election,” Garcia said

[“We are still over a year away from the next elections in 2028. Therefore, it appears we will really need to hold a special election.”]

However, Garcia admitted that the estimated budget to conduct a special poll in the 4th district in Cavite will take ₱200 million.

“Sa kasalukuyan, more or less, base sa ating inisyal na pagtatantsa, mukhang gagastos po ang COMELEC ng mga ₱200 million para maisagawa ang halalan sa nag-iisang distrito ng Dasmariñas, Cavite. Ang diyan po kasi sa Dasmariñas, ang kabuuan ng voting population o yung botante ay 437,730,”

[“Recently, more or less, based on our initial estimates, it seems like the COMELEC will spend ₱200 million to conduct the election in just one district in Dasmariñas, Cavite. This is because the total voting population in Dasmariñas is 437,730.”]

Garcia noted that the ₱200 million budget is higher than the nearly ₱98 million spent during the special election in Antipolo, following the passing of the late Antipolo 2nd district Representative Romeo Acop. He also clarified that the voting population is also lower (almost 200,000), which also affects the amount of budget needed at that time.