SC reverses Comelec’s disqualification of 2 local bets in Zambales, Bataan

Supreme Court of the Philippines (Photo from the official website of the Supreme Court / sc.judiciary.gov.p)

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has reversed the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) disqualification of two candidates in the 2025 local elections.

According to the SC Public Information Office in separate statements, the en banc acted on the petitions of Chito Bulatao Balintay and Marie Grace David.

The magistrates reversed the Comelec’s rejection of their certificates of candidacy (COCs).

The high tribunal came up with the resolution during its session on Tuesday.

Balintay—who is running for governor in Zambales—filed his COC on the last day of filing.

But incomplete documents led to his submission of his COC three minutes past the deadline.

Due to being late, Comelec rejected Balintay’s application.

The SC, however, ruled that Comelec “gravely abused its discretion” in doing so.

The justices stated that the Comelec should “reexamine whether its rules serve the interest of justice and fair play.”

“The Comelec must be prepared to make quick decisions in response to unforeseen circumstances that could undermine or subvert the will of the voters,” the SC told the poll body.

“Given these considerations, along with Balintay’s unique circumstances, the SC found that the Comelec’s strict application of its rules was unjustified, warranting the reversal of its decision,” it added.

With this, the SC ordered the poll body to accept Balintay’s COC and include his name in the official ballots.

Meanwhile, the SC also reversed the rejection of David’s COC, who is running for vice mayor of Limay, Bataan.

David filed her COC past the deadline of the filing after she was nominated as the substitute for Riche Jason David, who withdrew his COC for the same post on December 6, 2024.

David also filed a petition for substitution and inclusion in the official list of candidates/ballots before the Comelec.

However, the Comelec denied David’s substitution.

The poll body said she failed to file her COC and Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance within the prescribed period under Sec. 59 of Comelec Resolution No. 11045.

This section states that the deadline for substitution due to a candidate’s withdrawal is on October 8, 2024.

However, the SC ruled that the Comelec committed “grave abuse of discretion” by disallowing the substitution of Marie Grace David.

The SC said David fully complied with the requirements of Sec. 77 of the Omnibus Election Code, making her a bona fide candidate for the position of vice mayor of Limay, Bataan.

READ: Supreme Court stops Comelec’s disqualification order vs 5 local bets