The Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in G.R. No. 277595, preventing the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) from implementing its resolutions canceling Jonas C. Cortes’ Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for Mayor of Mandaue City in the 2025 National and Local Elections.

The TRO also prevented the COMELEC from deleting his name from the list of candidates for the said position.

The SC ordered the COMELEC and Ervin E. Estandarte [petitioner] to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 15 days from receipt.

In an official statement on January 20, 2025, Cortes said that, "the Supreme Court’s issuance of a TRO is a testament to its role as the last bastion of justice and democracy."

"I urge everyone to approach this moment with sobriety and unity, allowing due process to take its course. Let us not allow this moment to divide us, but rather, inspire us to work together for the betterment of Mandaue City,” Cortes said in his post.