Metro Manila, Philippines – Voters from Antipolo City’s second district cast ballots to choose their next representative in Congress during a manual special election conducted on Saturday, March 14.
More than 300 polling precincts opened early at 5 a.m. to accommodate vulnerable sectors and closed at 3 p.m. Those still lined up within the vicinity of the precincts were still allowed to cast their vote.
The winner will replace the late Rep. Romeo Acop, who died in December, and represent the district, which covers the villages of Calawis, Cupang, Dalig, Inarawan, San Jose, San Juan, San Luis, and San Roque.
While manual counting was still ongoing on Saturday afternoon, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) estimated a voter turnout of less than 35 percent. There were over 250,000 registered voters in the district.
Comelec chairman George Garcia said a low voter turnout does not mean a failure of election, noting the expectation of fewer people participating in plebiscites and special elections.
“Sa isang special election, wala tayong percentage na required para maging valid ang isang election. Kahit isa lang bumoto, so long as walang terrorism, violence, threat, or intimidation, walang declaration ng failure of election, that’s a valid election,” Garcia said in a news conference.
[Translation: In a special election, there is no required percentage to make it valid. Even with just one voter so long as there is no terrorism, violence, threat, or intimidation, and no declaration of failure of election, that’s a valid election.]
He also said there was sufficient voters’ education for the March 14 polls.
This was the first time the poll body held special elections without waiting for a congressional resolution, following a 2025 Supreme Court ruling.
Six candidates are vying for the position, including Acop’s son, Philip Conrad, who has the backing of his late father’s political party, National Unity Party.
LIST: Candidates for Antipolo 2nd district special polls
Many of the bets are promising to deliver the building of a public tertiary hospital in the city.
Garcia said Comelec received reports of some alleged election offenses, including distribution of sample ballots and other campaign materials, poll watchers inside the precincts wearing an ID bearing the name of the candidate they are supporting, and a person taking a photo of a filled-out ballot.
The commission also received a video supposedly showing an electoral board member outrightly rejecting a poll complaint.
He said people involved in the reported incidents have been summoned, with the poll body intending to file cases.
“Ito ay mga pulu-pulutong na insidente, hindi naman nag-reflect ng kabuuan ng ating halalan,” he told reporters.
[Translation: These are clusters of incidents but do not reflect the elections entirely.]
Garcia said they are expecting the proclamation of the winner on March 15.
