MANILA, Philippines — Incumbent Dasmariñas, Cavite Mayor Jennifer Barzaga, the mother of former lawmaker Kiko Barzaga, on Friday filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for the special elections of the lone congressional seat in the city, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said that the mayor submitted her COC at 2:38 p.m. The filing of the COC is set from July 15-17, 2026 for the conduct of the special elections.
READ: Comelec sets special polls in Barzaga’s district in Cavite Aug. 29
She is the fifth aspirant for the lone congressional seat of Dasmariñas Cavite. Among those who already filed their COCs are former Vice Mayor Raul Rex Del Rosario, Marvin Opamin Dupal-ag, Leysander Aguilar Ordenes, and Jacinto Bautista Frani Jr.
The special elections will be held on August 29, 2026 after Kiko was expelled by the House of Representatives last June 2 due to his “disruptive” and “disorderly behavior.”
The Comelec will only be accepting COCs until Friday, 5 p.m. at the audio visual room of the Socio-Economic Building (New City Hall) of Dasmariñas, Cavite.
Meanwhile, Garcia earlier said that Kiko may still run for the elections if he files his COC “because his expulsion as a congressman is not a perpetual disqualification to hold public office.”
READ: 265 House lawmakers vote to expel Kiko Barzaga
Garcia explained that this is different when an individual has been convicted with finality over any case, noting that the punishment includes perpetual disqualification to hold any public office.
The Comelec also noted that it will need around P191 million for the conduct of the elections. Garcia said that the poll body needs such amount since there are over 437,000 registered voters in the district, which will need more election materials and honoraria for teachers who will serve as electoral board members on election day. /jpv
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