The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing a rule that allowed public appointive officials to remain in office after being nominated as party-list representatives.
This decision follows a petition from election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who argued that Comelec’s rule violates the Constitution and existing legal precedents that mandate the resignation of appointive officials upon filing their certificate of candidacy.
The SC clarified that the TRO requires all parties to revert to the status quo, meaning those officials are considered resigned upon candidacy filing.
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia welcomed the TRO, stating it could clarify legal ambiguities regarding appointive officials in elections.
The Comelec has been given ten days to respond to Macalintal’s petition.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 2, 2024
