Disqualified Tarlac mayor to remain in post

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has allowed Tarlac City Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit to remain in her post pending the resolution of her appeal questioning her disqualification.

The SC issued a status quo ante order, temporarily reversing a ruling of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualifying Sulit from the mayoral race in the midterm elections in May.

The case stemmed from a petition filed by Amado de Leon and Jay-Ar Navarro, who claimed Sulit did not meet the one-year residency requirement in seeking an elective post.

The Comelec Second Division had dismissed the petition, allowed Sulit to run and proclaimed her as the winning mayor.

However, on Oct. 22, the Comelec en banc reversed the Second Division’s ruling and disqualified Sulit.

The office of the SC spokesperson said the high tribunal issued the status quo order “to maintain the situation between the parties” prior to the issuance by the Comelec en banc ruling while the case is pending with the SC.

The high tribunal directed the respondents to file their comments on the petition within 10 days from receipt of notice.