The Commission on Elections is eyeing to hold a special election in Negros Oriental by December at the earliest to fill the vacancy left by the decision of the House of Representatives to expel Arnie Teves.
The House of Representatives adopted House Resolution No. 1212 filed by Speaker Martin Romualdez, Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan.
The resolution certified the vacancy left by the expulsion of Teves.
Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said that a special election can be held in four months but it will be impossible to conduct the special polls together with the Barangay and SK Elections.
“The earliest we can conduct the special elections is in December 2023,” Garcia said.
Teves was the first lawmaker to be ousted from the chamber since 1987.
A total of 265 lawmakers voted to unseat Teves for disorderly behavior and violation of code of conduct. No one opposed the decision. Three lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc voted to abstain.
Teves was already slapped with a 60-day suspension twice after failing to return home despite the appeal of house leaders.
Teves was the alleged mastermind on the killing of former Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.
“This committee by a unanimous vote by its members recommends to the House of Representatives the imposition of the penalty of expulsion from the House of Representatives upon Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr,” House ethics committee chairman Felimon Espares said.
