Cavite Special Election: P50M City Donation to Comelec Sparks Conflict of Interest Row

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — The special election for the vacant Cavite 4th District post in the House of Representatives has drawn online attention anew, with netizens questioning the alleged donation of P50 million by Dasmariñas City to the Commission on Election (Comelec). In posts over various social media platforms, netizens claimed that the donation could be tainted with conflict of interest because the city is governed by Mayor Jennifer Barzaga, who is running for the seat left vacant after the House expelled her son, Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga Jr. on June 2 for disorderly behavior. “The donation would have been okay, but the mayor is a candidate and the vice mayor, who handed over the donation, is the mayor’s son,” one of the netizens said in a post. Other posts noted that the donation was turned over by acting Mayor Elpidio Barzaga III, after his mother the mayor stepped aside because of her candidacy. Five others are aspiring to represent the district. Netizens said the donation compromises the Comelec’s institutional neutrality as the special district election on Aug. 30 draws near. The Comelec expects 448,883 registered voters to cast their votes in 3,166 voting precincts in Dasmariñas. There was no immediate comment from the Comelec.