00:00 One month to go before the special elections in Negros Oriental, the poll body says it's
00:06 now cancelled. Over 301,000 Negrenses were supposed to elect a new representative to
00:12 fill the post vacated by Arnulfo Tevez. But the House of Representatives, through House
00:17 Resolution No. 154, urged COMELEC to reconsider the conduct of the special elections due to
00:23 the existing circumstances and predicament in the province.
00:27 In recognition of the legislative power of Congress, the law department and the NBAN
00:34 decided to cancel the conduct of the special election in the third legislative district
00:38 of the province of Negros Oriental and for the commission to discontinue its ongoing
00:43 preparation for the said special election.
00:47 First, the House cited the pending disqualification cases against winning Barangay and Eskay candidates
00:53 in Central Visayas. Second, Tevez is still questioning his expulsion before the Supreme
00:58 Court. Tevez was expelled because of disorderly conduct and for violating the code of conduct
01:04 of the House.
01:05 "Maybe the reason is because if there's a special election, the issue will be a mutin
01:09 academic pending before the Supreme Court. But as far as the COMELEC is concerned, you
01:14 cannot question the wisdom of the House of Representatives."
01:18 The House also cited the possible negative impact on the peace and order situation in
01:22 the province and nearby areas.
01:24 "I did not say what the negative impact is on them. And therefore, you know, when it
01:30 comes to the district representatives, so that the pulse of the district can be conveyed."
01:38 COMELEC Chairman George Garcia clarifies, it has not spent a huge amount yet since ballot
01:43 printing has not started and procurement is ongoing. The COMELEC has allotted P75 million
01:49 pesos for the special elections.
01:51 The House adopted the resolution on Tuesday, but the poll body was formally informed the
01:56 next day. This is why two aspirants filed their certificates of candidacy on Wednesday,
02:02 former Governor Pride Henry Tevez and Bakong Mayor Lenin Alviola. The COMELEC has directed
02:07 its regional and provincial officers to inform all stakeholders of the cancellation.
02:12 House Speaker Martin Romualdez is the caretaker of the 3rd District. The next move on the
02:17 vacated post is still up to Congress.
02:19 Paige Javier, CNN Philippines.
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