WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
MANILA, Philippines – Registered voters of Cavite’s 7th district troop to the polls on Saturday, February 25, to cast a ballot for their next congressman.
The winner of the special election will fill the seat in the House of Representatives vacated by former lawmaker Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla, who has been appointed justice secretary of the Marcos administration barely two weeks after he won the congressional election unopposed.
Republic Act 7166 or the electoral reforms law empowers the Comelec to hold a special election for a legislative seat if there is still at least one year left in the lawmaker’s term.
Bookmark this page for live updates on election day. – Rappler.com
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Why Cavite’s special election is a win for the voters
It gives the power back to the people to choose their representative in Congress, as opposed to the Speaker of the House just assigning allies as caretakers.
Sometimes those caretakers are not even from the same province. There is also the practical issue of a congressman or congresswoman already serving one constituency, and will be made to mind another district.
A vacancy in the legislature can be filled through a special election when the unexpired portion of the term is still at least one year before the next regular election.
Lawyer Juan Paolo Artiaga’s Thought Leaders piece is insightful. “Every filling of vacancy instead of a permanent appointment of legislative caretaker is a win for every Filipino,” he says.