Comelec approves P22-M budget for special poll to fill Iggy Arroyo’s post
BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—The Commission on Elections in an en banc resolution approved a budget of P21,669,325 for the June 2 special election for the 5th congressional post in Negros Occidental which was declared vacant following the death of Representive Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo Jr.
The Comelec en banc in its Resolution 12-0282, dated March 28, also suspended the registration of voters in the fifth district of Negros Occidental, effective April 1, to give way for the preparations and the conduct of the special election, said Provincial Election Supervisor Jessie Suarez on Thursday.
It also ordered that the January 2012 List of Voters and the clustering of precincts scheme used during the October 25, 2010 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections be used for the June 2 polls, Suarez added.
The Comelec en banc also designated Mila Casimiro as the special disbursing officer for the June 2 5th district election.
Republic Act 7166 provides that in case of a permanent vacancy in the Senate or House of Representatives at least one year before the expiration of the term, the Comelec must hold a special election not earlier than 60 days nor longer than 90 days after the occurrence of the vacancy, the Commission noted in its resolution.
It also noted that in the three special elections previously conducted for members of the House, vote counting was done manually.
The fifth district of Negros Occidental has 206,466 registered voters. Of this number, 29,200 voters are registered in Binalbagan, 41,682 in Hinigaran, 28,835 in Isabela, 35,307 in La Castellana, 20,936 in Moises Padilla and 50,506 in Himamaylan City.
The Resolution 12-0282 was signed by Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and Commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Armando Velasco, Christian Robert Lim, Lucenito Tagle, Elias Yusoph and Augusto Lagman.
