SC issues TRO vs. Comelec in 3 more poll cases

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday announced that it has issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) stopping the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing its rulings to disqualify or reject the certificates of candidacy (COCs) of three more individuals seeking to run for different positions in the upcoming midterm elections.

In a statement, the tribunal said it issued a TRO to stop the poll body from revoking the COC of Francis Leo Marcos, whom the Comelec ruled did not show a genuine intent to run for office.

Marcos, who has made unverifiable claims of kinship to the family of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., was allowed to run for senator in the 2022 election and obtained 4,477,0254 votes.

In a separate ruling, the SC also issued a TRO in favor of dismissed Albay governor Noel Rosal, who had claimed deliberate haste on the part of the poll body in disqualifying him.

Rosal was elected governor of Albay in the May 2022 elections but was dismissed from service by the Office of the Ombudsman in June 2024 after finding him guilty of grave misconduct, oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

The Ombudsman decision carries the penalties of perpetual disqualification to hold public office and cancellation of eligibility, and are immediately executory.

In October 2024, Rosal filed his COC seeking a new term as governor of Albay in the May 2025 elections.

On Monday, the high tribunal also issued a TRO in favor of Mandaue City, Cebu mayoralty candidate Jonas Cortes and preventing the Comelec from implementing its resolutions canceling his candidacy.

SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the court SC received around 25 petitions with prayers for TROs from October 9, 2024 to present.

“The SC has acted on 10 cases plus the two today (January 21), so, we still have a few pending, but we will just have to wait and see if the SC will issue (more) TROs,” Ting said in a message to reporters. (PNA)

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