Comelec orders proclamation of winning Manila 2nd District candidate

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the proclamation of Darwin Sia as a winning Manila City 2nd District councilor.

This came after the Comelec en banc on Wednesday decided to lift the suspension of Sia’s proclamation in the 2025 midterm elections.

“The City Board of Canvassers of the 2nd District of Manila, are hereby directed to RECONVENE within five (5) days from the receipt of this Order for the purpose of proceeding with the proclamation of Respondent as a winning candidate for the position of Member, Sangguniang Panglungsod in the 2nd District of the City of Manila,” the two-page order read.

READ: Comelec defers proclamation of 19 winners due to DQ cases

The Comelec postponed the proclamation of Sia after the Comelec en banc affirmed the decision of Comelec Second Division to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC).

READ: Comelec junks suit vs BH party list

Last March 21, the second division ruled that Sia committed material representation in his COC for failure to disclose that he was convicted of electricity pilferage, which the poll body deemed as a crime of moral turpitude.

The Omnibus Election Code states that an individual found to be convicted with finality of crimes involving moral turpitude shall be disqualified from holding any public office.

However, the Supreme Court on May 20 granted the temporary restraining order of Sia to stop the Comelec from cancelling his COC as a councilor.

Sia led the councilor race in the 2nd District with a total of 72,745 votes. He was under the ticket of Aksyon Demokratiko, the party of Mayor-elect Isko Moreno. /cb