The House of Representatives on Wednesday designated Speaker Martin Romualdez as the legislative caretaker of the third district of Palawan.

Zamboanga Sibugay Representative Wilter Palma made the motion during the plenary session, which was presided over by Deputy Speaker Roberto Puno.

The congressional seat became vacant following the death of Edward S. Hagedorn, Palawan 3rd District congressman and former mayor of Puerto Princesa City in October.

Prior to this, the chamber adopted House Resolution (HR) 1368, expressing their profound condolences to the family of Hagedorn.

Romualdez is also the legislative caretaker of Negros Oriental’s 3rd district.

The seat was previously held by former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves, Jr., who was expelled from the chamber for “disorderly behavior and for violation of the Code of Conduct of the House of Representatives.”

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced the cancellation of the special polls in the 3rd District of Negros Oriental province slated to be held on Dec. 9.

Comelec chairperson George Garcia said this is in response to the decision of the House of Representatives to withdraw its call to hold such polls to replace Teves, the prime suspect in the killing of former Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo.

The cancellation also came amid the period for the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC) for the special elections, which began on Monday and was supposed to run until Nov. 11.

“In view of the foregoing, we submit that House Resolution No. 136, which called for the conduct of the special election in the 3rd Legislative District of the Province of Negros Oriental is deemed recalled and abandoned upon passage of House Resolution No. 154,” Garcia said in the press briefing. (PNA)

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