SC issues TRO on Comelec disqualification vs Erice, others in Eleksyon 2025
The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) prohibiting the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from disqualifying former Caloocan City representative Edgar Erice and others from the May elections, according to SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting on Tuesday.
At a press conference, Ting said the SC ordered the poll body to comment on Erice’s petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice.
Aside from Erice, she said the SC also granted a TRO in favor of two individuals who were declared as nuisance candidates, one whose application was denied by Comelec, and one whose certificate of candidacy was canceled by the poll body.
“The TROs prohibit Comelec from disqualifying them. So this means their names have to be included in the ballot. So it’s up to Comelec how they would implement this. But they will just have to follow the order of the SC,” Ting said.
On January 3, Erice asked the SC to issue a TRO or a writ of preliminary injunction to enjoin the Comelec from implementing its resolution on his disqualification.
In November, the Comelec disqualified Erice for violation of Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code for supposedly spreading “false and alarming” information.
It affirmed his disqualification in a resolution released on December 27.
Erice is running for a seat in the House of Representatives in the second district of Caloocan City.
Aside from Erice, Ting said a TRO was also issued in favor of Subair Guinthum Mustapha, who is seeking a Senate post, and Charles Savellano, who is seeking the district representative post in Ilocos Sur’s 1st District. Both were declared as nuisance candidates by the poll body.
The SC also ruled in favor of Chito Balintay, a member of the indigenous people of Zambales. Comelec rejected Balintay’s application, which prevented him from filing his COC for Zambales governor.
Further, the Court issued a TRO prohibiting Comelec from cancelling the COC of Florendo De Ramos Ritualo Jr. for Sangguniang Panlungsod Member of San Juan City’s 1st District.
‘Part of the process’
Sought for his comment, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the poll body would have to find a way to comply with the High Court’s order.
“Part of the process. We will have to find a way to comply with the SC directive,” Garcia said in a message to reporters.
Garcia said he will call for a meeting with other officials to discuss whether the Comelec should suspend the printing of the ballots.
“The [election management system] will be changed including the database and we have to start again the serialization of each and every candidate's name nationwide,” he said.
The Comelec started printing the 73 million ballots to be used for the elections last January 6. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News