President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared August 29 a special nonworking holiday in Dasmariñas City, enabling registered voters to cast their ballots in a special election to fill the vacant congressional seat for Cavite’s fourth district.
The directive, formalized through Proclamation No. 1369 and signed on behalf of the President by Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, encompasses the whole fourth legislative district of Cavite, which is comprised entirely of Dasmariñas City.
The proclamation added that declaring the special nonworking day was necessary “to enable the people to properly exercise their right to vote.”
To complete the remainder of the district’s unexpired term, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) scheduled the special poll following a vacancy created when the House of Representatives voted to expel former representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga on June 2 due to disorderly conduct and behavior unbecoming of a member.
The legislative chamber endorsed the recommendation from the committee on ethics and privileges to oust Barzaga through a vote of 265-14, alongside eight abstentions.
Under Republic Act No. 6645, a special election must be called when a seat in the House of Representatives becomes vacant at least one year prior to the next regular congressional polls.