The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) en banc has declared Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit ineligible to hold office after finding that she failed to meet the one-year residency requirement under the Local Government Code.

In a unanimous decision dated October 22, 2025, the COMELEC en banc ruled in favor of the petitioners’ motion for reconsideration, reversing the earlier decision of the Second Division that dismissed the case on technical grounds. The ruling also withdrew Yap-Sulit’s proclamation as the winner of the May 2025 elections.

COMELEC found that Yap-Sulit failed to prove her residency in Barangay Tibag, Tarlac City, as required by law.

“Base po sa ebidensiya ng ating mga barangay official, barangay health worker at kahit po ‘yung sariling political ally ni Susan Yap ay sinabing hindi po sila nakatira sa Brgy. Tibag. Nakita po na warehouse lang po ‘yung sinasabing bahay niya,” Atty. Aaron Dapano, legal counsel of the petitioners, said.

In an official statement posted on her Facebook page, Yap-Sulit said she has not yet received an official copy of the decision from the COMELEC en banc. She assured her supporters that her camp will exhaust all legal remedies to uphold the truth.

"Sisiguruhin naming gamitin ang lahat ng legal na paraang nakalaan sa amin upang ipaglaban ang katotohanan," it read.

According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Tarlac City, Yap-Sulit’s camp may seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court. However, if no TRO is issued within five days of the COMELEC’s decision, the commission may issue a certificate of finality to enforce its ruling.

“For the DILG naman po, siyempre ang naglabas po ng desisyon ay Comelec. Alam ko meron pong ilang days ‘yan na hihintayin for the execution po na ilalabas po ng Comelec, the writ of execution,” Engr. Rod Mark Salvador, DILG officer for Tarlac City, said.

Once the decision becomes final, the mayor’s position will be declared vacant. Under Section 44 of the Local Government Code, the vice mayor automatically assumes the role of mayor in such cases.

“Siyempre po kung mapa-final po at mai-execute po ‘yung nailabas ng COMELEC, our Vice Mayor KT Angeles will assume the position of Mayor of Tarlac City,” Salvador said.