Comelec rules out special elections in Sorsogon

MANILA, Philippines—The Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled out the possibility of holding a special elections to select the replacement of Sorsogon Rep. Salvador Escudero III who died of cancer on Monday.

Election Commissioner Rene Sarmiento said it was now impossible to hold a special balloting in the first district of Sorsogon, citing limited time.

He said the House of Representatives could just appoint a “caretaker congressman” from an adjacent district.

Sarmiento cited Republic Act No. 7166, which states that “in case a permanent vacancy shall occur in the Senate or House of Representatives at least one year before the expiration of the term, the commission shall call and hold a special election for the vacancy.”

“There’s no more time for a special elections because it’s already too close to the 2013 elections,” Sarmiento told reporters in a phone interview on Monday.