CAVITE — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has nullified the proclamation of Alston Kevin Amutan Anarna as mayor of Silang, ruling that he was disqualified from running for office in previous elections.

In a resolution promulgated on Thursday, June 19, Comelec granted the Motion for Reconsideration filed by incumbent Mayor Edward “Ted” E. Carranza, reversing an earlier ruling by the First Division that dismissed Carranza’s petition for disqualification.

Comelec cited a 2024 joint decision by the Ombudsman finding Anarna guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty, which resulted in his dismissal from public service and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. The commission ruled that such administrative penalties fall under Section 40(b) of the Local Government Code, which disqualifies individuals removed from office from seeking any elective post.

“To permit a candidate who is administratively disqualified to run for office would render the constitutional and statutory sanctions imposed by the Ombudsman inutile, effectively frustrating the ends of administrative discipline and making a mockery of the electoral process,” the resolution stated.

With Anarna’s disqualification and the annulment of his proclamation as mayor, votes cast in his favor are deemed stray.

Comelec ordered the Municipal Board of Canvassers of Silang to reconvene and proclaim the candidate with the next highest number of valid votes.

The commission also directed its law department to conduct a preliminary investigation into possible election offenses in connection with the case.

Anarna’s camp, meanwhile, condemned the ruling as “vulgarly illegal” and a “gross violation” of due process.

“What is so strange in this decision is that there has been no notice of the suit, no summons, and no answer,” Anarna’s legal counsel, Atty. Emil Marañon III, said in a press release.

“This is of course not only vulgarly illegal, but a gross violation of the constitutional right to due process of Mayor Anarna. In fact, this procedural travesty has never ever happened in the history of the Comelec.”

Marañon also questioned the basis of the disqualification, noting that the Ombudsman decision cited by the Comelec remains non-final and is still pending before the Court of Appeals.

“Obviously, candidates can be ‘disqualified’ only on the basis of a final decision,” the statement said.

Anarna’s camp intends to file a Petition for Certiorari before the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling.