MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday (14 Jan 2025) issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) halting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing its decisions to disqualify or reject the certificates of candidacy (COCs) of five individuals seeking to run for various positions in the upcoming national and local elections.
During its first en banc session for the year, the SC granted TROs that prevent the Comelec from declaring Subair Guinthum Mustapha and Charles Savellano as nuisance candidates in their bids for Senate and Ilocos Sur 1st District representative, respectively.
The Court instructed the Comelec to respond to the petitions of Mustapha and Savellano within five days of receiving the notice, with a requirement for personal service and the filing of a resolution and comment.
In another case, the SC granted a TRO in favor of Chito Bulatao Balintay, an indigenous peoples’ representative from Zambales, who had challenged Comelec’s decision rejecting his COC for Zambales governor. This ruling effectively mandates the poll body to accept and process his COC.
The SC also issued TROs for Edgar Erice, who was disqualified by the Comelec in his bid for Caloocan City’s 2nd District representative, and Florendo de Ramos Ritualo Jr., who is contesting the cancellation of his COC for San Juan City’s 1st District Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) seat.
The Court directed the Comelec to file a comment on the cases of Balintay, Erice, and Ritualo within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receiving the notice.
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