The Supreme Court (SC) issued three more temporary restraining orders (TROs) that stopped the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from disqualifying three candidates in three towns in the May 2025 elections.
In a press briefer issued by the SC's Office of the Spokesperson early evening on Friday, Jan. 17, the three TROs were in favor of:
- Mary Grace R. David, a candidate for vice mayor of Limay, Bataan. Her petition for substitution and inclusion in the official list of candidates were dismissed by the Comelec.
- Mary Dominique A. Onate, a candidate for mayor of Palompon, Leyte, and who was declared a nuisance candidate by the Comelec.
- Aldrin B. Sta. Ana, a candidate for mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan, and whose name was deleted by the Comelec as candidate.
The SC ordered the Comelec to file in person its comment on the petition with a non-extendible period of 15 days on the case filed by David. In the cases of Onate and Sta. Ana, the Comelec and those who filed the petitions against them before the poll body were given non-extendible period of 10 days to file their comments.
Last Tuesday, the SC issued TROs in favor of:
- Subair Guinthum Mustapha, a senatorial candidate, who had been declared a nuisance candidate by the Comelec.
- Charles Savellano, a congressional candidate for the First District of Ilocos Sur and who had been declared a nuisance candidate.
- Chito Bulatao Balintay, a candidate for governor of Zambales and whose certificate of candidacy was rejected by the Comelec.
- Edgar R. Erice, a candidate for a congressional seat in Caloocan City’s Second District and who had been disqualified by the Comelec.
- Florendo de Ramos Ritualo Jr., a candidate for the Sangguniang Panglungsod member in San Juan City’s First District and whose certificate of candidacy (COC) was cancelled by the Comelec.
The TROs issued by the SC are immediately executory.
The Comelec had earlier said it will comply with the SC orders on the first five cases. It was not known immediately if the Comelec has received the lastest TROs.