Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed Crispin Diego “Ping” Remulla as the new representative of Cavite’s 7th legislative district on Sunday.
The special election for the post was held on Saturday, Feb. 25. The Comelec said on Sunday that 149,581 or only 42.11% of the 355,184 registered voters in Cavite’s 7th legislative district took part in the poll. Remulla garnered 98,474 votes.
He beat three other candidates: former Trece Martires City Mayor Melencio de Sagun Jr. (46,530 votes), Jose Angelito Aguinaldo (1,610 votes), and Michael Angelo Santos (1,068 votes).
CNN Philippines Correspondent Paige Javier contributed to this report.
Remulla replaced his father, Justice Secretary Jesus “Boying” Remulla, in the congressional post. The elder Remulla vacated the position after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him to the Department of Justice last year.
“I always looked up to him [Jesus Remulla] so it’s very big shoes to fill,” the congressman-elect said after his proclamation on Sunday.
When asked about his priority agenda in Congress, he replied: “Price adjustment sa [for] minimum wage sa aming [in our] province because the expenses here are very close to the ones in Metro Manila, but minimum wage here is actually lower.”
Cavite’s 7th district consists of the municipalities of Amadeo, Indang and Tanza and Trece Martires City.
In a media briefing after the proclamation, Comelec Chairman George Garcia lamented the low voter turnout.
“To a certain extent, nakakapanghinayang ‘yung nagagastos na pondo ng taongbayan tapos ang boboto lang ay kakaunti [it is regrettable that our people’s funds are being spent but only few will vote],” he said.
A petition for disqualification was earlier filed against Remulla by Sagun over the alleged distribution of government funds during his campaign.
Garcia said the disqualification case against Remulla is still pending in the Comelec.
“Mas maganda hintayin niyo na lang [It’s better that you wait] in the next few days, the [Comelec] en banc will definitely act on the matter.”
Garcia added that for the poll body to lose jurisdiction over the disqualification case, “there must be proclamation, a valid oath, and assumption to office. If these three requisites are present, then the Comelec and any other body including the Supreme Court will lose jurisdiction.”
Remulla told reporters after the special elections that he had not received any complaints and that his lawyers would handle the matter.
Meanwhile, Garcia said that a few technical glitches had marred the special elections but claimed that these did not affect the credibility of the results.
