Comelec: Antipolo special poll results out today
MANILA, Philippines — Voters from Antipolo City flocked to polling places on Saturday to elect a congressman to replace Rep. Romeo Acop, who died last December.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair George Erwin Garcia did not report any difficulties during the election and expressed optimism that the winner of the race may be proclaimed on Sunday.
“We have not encountered any untoward incident or major issue so far in the voting of residents in the second district of Antipolo,” the poll chief said in a radio interview.
READ: Comelec: Cheating, poll fraud in Antipolo special elections ‘impossible’
“We will canvas until dawn or until tomorrow morning,” Garcia added. “We might have a proclamation of the winning congressman of the second district of Antipolo just before 11 a.m.”
Garcia reported that voters, particularly senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women, started appearing at dawn on Saturday.
Voters who were already within polling areas at 3 p.m., or the closing of voting hours, were also allowed to vote.
The election involved six candidates: Dandin Infante, Reden Llaga, Ma. Trinidad Galang, Philip Conrad Acop, Nathaniel Lobigas and Irvin Paulo Tapales.
The Comelec announced the special election for Acop’s replacement in January, after Acop, 78, succumbed to a heart attack on Dec. 20, 2025.
No irregularities seen
Earlier on Saturday, Garcia assured Antipolo City residents that the special elections would not be tainted with any form of cheating or election fraud.
“The whole commission is focusing on this right now. I think all the PNP (Philippine National Police) and AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) are here, as well as the watchers of political parties and their candidates who have been here, so it is impossible,” Garcia said.
Garcia also said that elections in Rizal province have always been proper and it has never been categorized as a critical area that needs extra monitoring.
“There are no untoward incidents, even in past elections. This area has never been classified as a critical area or under the red or orange category. Rizal has always been executing peaceful elections,” Garcia added.
The Comelec said that there are a total of 252,793 registered voters from eight barangays in the second district.
Garcia said the District Board of Canvassers convenes at 6 p.m. on Saturday and had already started canvassing election returns. /cb
