1993 Philippine House of Representatives special elections

Two special elections (known as "by-elections" elsewhere) to the House of Representatives of the Philippines, the lower house of Congress, were held on August 30, 1993. These were vacancies in the 9th Congress; the winners were to serve the rest of the term, which had ended on June 30, 1995.

1993 Philippine House of Representatives special elections

← 1992 August 30, 1993 1995 →
2 of 200 seats in the House of Representatives of the Philippines
Majority party Minority party   Party Liberal Lakas Seats won 1 1

These were the first special elections since the preceding ones in 1967, the downfall of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, and the approval of the 1987 constitution. The disputed seats were for Agusan del Norte's 2nd congressional district, and for Capiz's 1st congressional district. Both winners, Edelmiro Amante and Mar Roxas, ran unopposed.

Electoral system

At this time, most seats in the House of Representatives were elected from single member districts, under the first-past-the-post voting system. Other seats were sectoral representatives appointed by the president.

Special elections

Party		Seats
	Liberal Party	1
	Lakas–NUCD	1
Total		2

Agusan del Norte's 2nd district

See also: Agusan del Norte's 2nd congressional district

President Fidel V. Ramos announced the resignation of Executive Secretary Peter Garrucho in August 1992. Ramos then nominated Edelmiro Amante to replace him.^[1] Amante was one of the officials renominated Ramos after they were bypassed by the Commission on Appointments. Amante did not want to resign as congressman without the assurance that the commission will confirm him. Amante, a Lakas–NUCD stalwart, who attends cabinet meetings as an observer, is facing a commission tasked with confirming presidential appointments dominated by the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.^[2] By December, Amante asked to resign but the president granted him a medical leave of absence instead.^[3] Amante's nomination as Executive Secretary was again bypassed in April; Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. then petitioned to make him Secretary of Public Works and Highways instead.^[4]

In May, Congress filed a resolution asking the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) to hold a special election in Amante's district. Amante, for his part, denied he will take part in the special election, as Ramos wanted him to stay as Executive Secretary. Amante had by then earlier said he would want to be public works secretary.^[5] A month later, the COMELEC set the special elections in August 30, with Amante reportedly taking part.^[6] Amante resigned as Executive Secretary, taking effect on July 1, 1993, to take part in the special election. Amante, upon his return from medical leave, saw his responsibilities exercised by other people when he left, then was not restored to him when he returned, making him disenchanted. In the special election, Amante said "I hope nobody will oppose me but should there be one, I will dispose of him". Ramos was then considering Senator Teofisto Guingona Jr. as Amante's replacement.^[7]

In the ensuing special election, Amante was elected unopposed.^[8]

1993 Agusan del Norte's 2nd congressional district special election

Candidate		Party
	Edelmiro Amante	Lakas–NUCD
Total
	Lakas–NUCD hold

Amante died in 2013, having 4 spells as Agusan del Norte congressman, last serving in 2010.^[9]

Capiz's 1st district

See also: Capiz's 1st congressional district

On April 4, 1993, Gerardo Roxas Jr. died. A month later, Speaker Pro-Tempore Raul Daza, acting in behalf of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., asked the COMELEC to hold a special election in Roxas's district. Either Roxas's mother Judy, or his brother Manuel "Mar", was slated to run.^[10] The COMELEC then set the special elections on August 30.^[6]

Mar Roxas successfully defended his brother's seat unopposed.^[8]

1993 Capiz's 1st congressional district special election

Candidate		Party
	Mar Roxas	Liberal Party
Total
	Liberal Party hold

Mar eventually became a member of the Cabinet and senator, and was defeated in the 2010 vice presidential^[11] and 2016 presidential election.^[12]

Aftermath

After these uncontested elections, Congress elected the Lone Candidate Law, or Republic Act No. 8295, in 1997, wherein if there was only one candidate in a special election, the election would no longer take place, and the candidate shall be declared the winner.^[13]

References

1. "Top Ramos aide quits, reveals rifts in Cabinet". Business Times. 1992-08-11. p. 19.
2. Maragay, Fel V. (1992-09-09). "FVR. renominates Amante, 16 other Cabinet heads". Manila Standard. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
3. Manalo, Merlinda; VIllanueva, Marichu A. (1992-12-31). "Amande granted leave due to failing health". Manila Standard. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
4. Daroy, Petronilo Bn. (1993-04-12). "Amante's call for reorganization". Manila Standard. p. 8. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
5. "Amante won't run anew". Manila Standard. 1993-05-15. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
6. Atadero, Arnold (1993-06-18). "Fate of 2 COMELEC execs uncertain". Manila Standard. p. 5. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
7. Villanueva, Marichu A. (1993-06-29). "Guingona offered exec sec post". Manila Standard. p. 3. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
8. "Rainbow grouping still intact, solons claim". Manila Standard. 1994-01-10. p. 2. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
9. Lapeña, Carmela G. (2013-03-11). "Former Executive Secretary Rep. Edelmiro Amante, 79". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
10. "Comelec asked to hold special elections to fill vacancy". Manila Standard. 1993-05-02. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
11. Ramos, Marlon (2016-04-29). "3 deaths marked Mar's journey". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
12. "Duterte, Robredo win 2016 polls". ABS-CBN News. May 27, 2016.
13. "EXPLAINER. House Speaker Velasco might pick a caretaker for Raul del Mar's seat. Plague and cost-saving, for government and candidates, may be cited against special election". SUNSTAR. 2020-11-18. Retrieved 2023-09-01.