Tarlac City Vice Mayor Katrina Theresa Angeles is set to take over as the city’s chief executive following the final decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) disqualifying Mayor Susan Yap-Sulit.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia confirmed that the poll body will soon issue a certificate of finality and entry of judgment after the camp of Yap-Sulit failed to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court within five days of the ruling’s promulgation.
‘Our rules state that a Comelec en banc decision becomes final and executory five days after promulgation unless a TRO is issued by the Supreme Court. As of now, no TRO has been granted. Once final, the Comelec decision will be implemented by the [Department of the Interior and Local Government],’ Garcia said, mostly in Filipino.
The Comelec en banc earlier disqualified Yap-Sulit from the May 2025 elections for failing to meet the one-year residency requirement under the Local Government Code.
The ruling also said Yap-Sulit could not establish that she was a resident of Barangay Tibag, and thus nullified her proclamation as mayor.
Garcia acknowledged that Yap-Sulit garnered the highest number of votes but clarified that it does not automatically mean she was a qualified candidate.
He added that the poll body retains jurisdiction even after a candidate’s proclamation
‘As the Supreme Court held in Velasco vs. Comelec, the will of the people cannot prevail over the rule of law. If one is elected under the belief of being qualified, but in truth is not, then from the very start that person was never a candidate,’ Garcia explained.
Yap-Sulit, meanwhile, called on the Comelec to respect the will of the people.
‘If this is not corrected, this will lead to the disenfranchisement of Filipino voters. It’s a crucial blow to a basic, fundamental, and constitutionally guaranteed human right – the right of constituents to choose their leaders,’ she said in a statement.
The unseated mayor also maintained that her victory represents the people’s mandate.
‘A technicality once dismissed cannot erase a mandate freely given. Tarlac City is my home, my life, and my heart. Respect and uphold the people’s vote.’ she emphasized.