Comelec 1st Division lifts proclamation suspension vs Isabela vice mayoral bet

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division has lifted the suspension of the proclamation of lawyer Jeryll Harold Respicio, who won the vice-mayoralty race in the town of Reina Mercedes, Isabela, in Eleksyon 2025.

According to a decision dated June 2, the poll body division ordered the reconvening of the municipal board of canvassers within five days for the proclamation of Respicio.

“After due deliberation and in consonance with the thrust of the Government to deliver basic and vital services but without prejudice to the resolution of this matter on the merits, the Order of the Commission (First Division) dated May 12, 2025, insofar as the Respondent Jeryll Harold Paz Respicio is concerned, is hereby lifted, effective immediately,” the ruling reads.

“The Municipal Board of Canvassers of Reina Mercedes, Province of Isabela, are directed to reconvene within five days from the receipt of this order for the purpose of proceeding with the proclamation of Respondent as the winning candidate for the position of Vice Mayor in the Municipality of Reina Mercedes, Province of Isabela,” it added.

It can be recalled the Comelec en banc has ordered the suspension of proclamation of 19 candidates for Eleksyon 2025, including Respicio, pending the resolution of the charges they are facing with the poll body.

In February, the poll body, through Task Force Katotohanan, Katapatan at Katarungan (KKK) sa Halalan, filed cybercrime charges against Respicio over a series of social media videos allegedly claiming he can manipulate the results of Eleksyon 2025. A disqualification case was also lodged against him.

Respicio, for his part, filed a petition before the Supreme Court, questioning the Comelec’s move to suspend his proclamation.

Decision not related to SC petition

Meanwhile, poll chief George Erwin Garcia said the ruling of the Comelec division came even without a motion for reconsideration from Respicio. He also clarified that it is not related to the petition for certiorari  the lawyer lodged with the High Court.

“Kahit wala naman syang motion na finile sa commission, minarapat ng Comelec Division na i-lift ang suspension…Gusto lang natin patunayan at least sa buong Commission, sa sambayanan, hindi po name-mersonal ang Comelec. Wala kaming hinanaing, sama ng loob o sakit ng kalooban kahit na bagamat kabi-kabila ang patutsada niya, banat nya sa Commission,” Garcia told reporters.

(The Comelec Division decided to lift the suspension even without an MR to show that we’re not taking things personally. We have no bad blood against any candidate despite his repeated criticisms against us.)

“Itong ginawa ng Comelec ay walang relasyon sa finile sa SC. Nararapat lang — katulad ng aming ginagawa sa ibang mga kaso na nagkaroon ng suspension of proclamation — na nili-lift na 'yung order pagkatapos pinapa-proklama nung malaman na maaaring hindi naman ganoon kabigat ang kaso na kinakaharap niya,” he added.

(It is also unrelated to the petition with the SC. The division moved to lift it after studying the case.)

Garcia said they have yet to receive a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the en banc decision.

“We’re exercising due process and fairness dito sa mga ganitong bagay,” he added.

(We’re exercising due process and fairness in these kind of things.) —AOL, GMA Integrated News