DBM, Comelec argue over funds for Antipolo polls

Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop —Photo from House of Representatives

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) advised the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday to tap its existing funds for the March 14 special election to fill the vacant House seat left by the late Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop.

Budget Undersecretary Goddes Libiran said in a statement that the poll body should still have resources to cover the Antipolo special elections, including P40.799 billion in accumulated unobligated allotments from previous years, in addition to its allocation of P19.873 billion for this fiscal year.

“Based on Comelec’s own submitted financial reports as of Dec. 31, 2025, the Commission still has P20.926 billion in accumulated unobligated allotments from prior years, bringing its total unobligated allotments to P40.799 billion,” she added.

Libiran also stressed that the DBM did not deny the poll body’s request for additional funding for the conduct of the Antipolo special congressional election, as claimed by Comelec Chair Erwin George Garcia.

“Far from foreclosing assistance, DBM made clear that should Comelec fully exhaust its available allotments in relation to the special election. It may formally request additional funding from DBM, subject to the submission of the required Budget Execution Documents and justification, in accordance with established procedures,” she said.

READ: DBM: Comelec can use existing funds for Antipolo special polls

Garcia, however, said in a separate interview on Thursday that the Comelec only has P11 million allocated for special elections under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.

He explained earlier that they needed P98 million for the Antipolo election, with the amount going to the registration of 280,000 voters; honoraria for electoral board members, special electoral boards, support personnel and district board canvassers; printing of official ballots and other accountability forms; and training and deployment of election personnel.

Another vacancy?

The constitution requires the poll body to hold a special election in case of a vacancy in a congressional district. The polls must be held within 60 to 90 days after the post is vacated. Acop died in December.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the Comelec is still awaiting official word from the House regarding the vacancy created by the resignation of ACT-CIS party list Rep. Edvic Yap.

Yap resigned on Wednesday after he was named by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla as among the politicians who allegedly received money from contractor-couple Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya, who have been linked to anomalous flood control projects. —WITH A REPORT FROM GILLIAN VILLANUEVA