The mayor of President Roxas town in the Province of Capiz has been ordered to vacate his post.

Mayor Receliste Escolin was ordered to step down from public office based on the decision of the court on the quo warranto case filed against him.

According to the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 in Roxas City, it was established that Escolin is “ineligible,” or is disqualified from holding public office.

It was learned that he already served three successive terms as mayor before he won again in the 2025 National and Local Elections.

However, according to Escolin, the court does not have the power to remove him from office, citing that the RTC decision is not yet final and executory.

He added he will file at the Court of Appeals after his camp is given 15 days to make an appeal.

“Premature ang kanilang pag-file ng kaso kasi dapat nag-file sila ng kaso sa akin sa quo warranto June 30, pagkatapos kong mag-oath of office, or July 1. Hindi na noong hindi pa ako nakakaupo sa aking term as mayor o ang incumbency ko sa 2025 election, sinampahan nila ako noong incumbency ko sa 2022 na term ko. Ibig sabihin, malinaw na premature ang pag-file nila and at the same time walang jurisdiction ang court na magpalabas ng desisyon at pababain ako sa pwesto,” Escolin pointed out.

Further, Escolin said he did not violate the three-term-limit rule when he ran for mayor again.

He said that one of his three terms was "interrupted" because of a 90-day suspension imposed by the Office of the Ombudsman for simple misconduct.

“Hindi natin na-full term ang ating term limit bilang three consecutive terms bilang mayor ng bayan. Then nag-file tayo ng ating COC [Certificate of Candidacy] kasi nagka-suspension penalty tayo without pay ng Ombudsman, final and executory, and at the same time, punitive ang kanilang suspension sa akin,” Escolin added.