Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<p>ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal — National Unity Party (NUP) candidate Philip “Dok Bong” Acop was proclaimed the winner of the special election for the 2nd District of Antipolo City early Sunday, March 15, 2026.</p><p>The District Board of Canvassers and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in Antipolo proclaimed Acop at 3:19 a.m., following the manual canvassing of votes from the special polls held on Saturday, March 14.</p><p>Acop garnered 60,051 votes, defeating his closest rival, Reden Llaga, who received 12,054 votes.</p><p>Other candidates obtained the following votes:</p><ul><li>• Paulo Tapales: 10,080</li><li>• Nathaniel Lobigas: 754</li><li>• Dandin Infante: 412</li><li>• Maria Trinidad Cafirma: 199</li></ul><div> </div><p>Acop will replace his father, Romeo Acop, who<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/12/21/antipolo-rep-romeo-acop-dies-after-heart-attack-1337"> passed away</a> on December 20, 2025.</p><p>The elder Acop ran unopposed in the May 2025 elections and secured 131,925 votes.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/29/house-pays-tribute-to-late-rep-acop-2015">House pays tribute to late Rep. Acop</a></div><p>Antipolo Election Officer Joseph Vega noted that the electoral boards were able to submit the election returns on time.</p><p>“Dumating naman nang on-time &#x27;yung ating mga electoral board at dahil maayos naman at secured naman sila, napadali naman &#x27;yung kanilang pagbabalik,” Vega said.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:560px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;text-align:center"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" style="position:static;visibility:visible;width:560px;height:311px;display:block;flex-grow:1" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=2032939591909711897&amp;lang=en&amp;maxWidth=560px&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com%2F%23%2Fworkspace%2Fmonitoring%3Fitem%3Durn%3Anewsml%3Aod2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com%3A2026-03-14T23%3A46%3A53.834472%3A917ea413-3570-4e67-bc6c-0bf60255f6ba%26action%3Dedit&amp;sessionId=76482c7be8109caea39f2851969890c6afd3af7f&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&amp;width=550px" data-tweet-id="2032939591909711897"></iframe><br/></div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8"></script><p>He noted that while returns from some far-flung areas arrived later in the evening, the canvassing was completed earlier than expected despite the manual process.</p><p>“Natapos po kami ng alas-3 ng umaga at nakapag-proclaim po tayo ng alas-3 ng umaga rin,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/3/14/antipolo-special-polls-namfrel-observes-low-number-of-voters-in-some-far-flung-areas-1944">Antipolo special polls: Namfrel observes low number of voters in some far-flung areas</a></div><p>Following his proclamation, Acop thanked the supporters who campaigned with him across the district.</p><p>“Masaya, natapos na po. Unang-una, salamat sa mga kasama naming nag-ikot, naglakad para mapuntahan bawat sulok ng distrito. Sa mga nagbukas ng pinto, mga sumalubong na may ngiti, maraming salamat din po,” he said.</p><p>Acop vowed to bring the residents&#x27; concerns to the House of Representatives. </p><p>“Ngayong gabi, meron na ulit boses ang distrito sa Kongreso at asahan po ninyo, baon ko ang inyong hirap at pangarap sa Kongreso at hindi ko kayo papahiyain,” he added.</p><p>Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares is expected to administer Acop&#x27;s oath of office on Monday, March 16.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BnLosW4QKY4?si=5wnZ3tU7xnwayLYJ" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>National Unity Party (NUP) candidate Philip “Dok Bong” Acop was proclaimed the winner of the special election for the 2nd District of Antipolo City early Sunday, March 15, 2026.</p>

National Unity Party (NUP) candidate Philip “Dok Bong” Acop was proclaimed the winner of the special election for the 2nd District of Antipolo City early Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Philip Acop wins Antipolo 2nd District special election

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Philip Acop wins Antipolo 2nd District special election

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 15, 2026 08:03 AM PHT

Read More:

COMELEC

Special Election

Antipolo City

2nd District

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