LIST: Schedule of activities for Cavite 4th District’s special election

CAVITE, Philippines – The special election in Cavite’s 4th District is scheduled on August 29, 2026, the Commission on Elections announced this week.

This will fill the vacant seat at the House of Representatives after the expulsion of former representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga last June 2. Barzaga was expelled for disorderly behavior, conduct unbecoming of a member, and violations of the House’s Code of Conduct. 

According to Malacañang, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has sufficient funds to conduct a special election in Cavite. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Budget and Management had informed the Palace that the poll body may use its existing funds for the electoral exercise.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said the poll body would need some P200 million for the holding of the special election.

Here’s the list of activities so far in line with the special polls:

• Filing of certificate of candidacy: July 15 to 17
• Start of election period: July 30
• Election day: August 29
• Proclamation day: likely August 30

Garcia said he is hoping that August 29 will be declared a special holiday in the locality to encourage more voters to participate.

“Ang pagsasagawa ng special election ay alinsunod sa Section 4, Republic Act No. 7166 upang mapunan ang nabakanteng puwesto sa Kamara,” the Comelec said.

“Alinsunod sa nabanggit na batas, tungkulin ng Comelec na magdaos ng special election kapag nagkaroon ng permanenteng bakante sa House of Representatives bago matapos ang termino, upang hindi mawalan ng kinatawan at boses sa Kongreso ang mga residente ng 4th District ng Cavite,” it added.

(The conduct of the special election is based on Section 4 of Republic Act No. 7166 to fill the vacant seat at the House. Under the said law, the Comelec has the duty to hold a special election if there’s a permanent vacant post at the House of Representatives before the term’s end to ensure that the people of Cavite’s 4th District would have a representative at the Congress.)

Dasmariñas City is a 1st-class component city in Cavite. It has a population of 703,141 as of the 2020 Census, and a land area of 90.13 square kilometers. It is composed of 75 barangays and has 432,844 registered voters, based on the 2025 elections.

Barzaga won the 2025 midterm polls with 165,942 votes against his rival, former councilor Jesse Frani, who had 150,316. – Rappler.com