SC issues TRO: Party-list nominees in gov't deemed resigned

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order against the Commission on Elections' rule that allows public appointive officials to continue serving after being nominated as a party-list representative.

At a press conference, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the SC en banc ordered the Comelec not to implement Section 11 of its Resolution No. 11045.

“Comelec is enjoined from implementing Section 11 of its Resolution No. 11045. All parties are required to observe the status quo that public appointed officials are deemed resigned upon filing of the certificate of candidacy (COC),” Ting said.

She said the high court also required Comelec to comment on the petition filed by veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal within 10 days from notice.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia welcomed the issuance of the TRO.

“As we said before, we support the filing of the petition to the extent of hopefully clarifying certain gray areas in the law and existing jurisprudence,” he said.

Fifteen party-list groups filed their Certificates of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA) on Tuesday. Each party-list group has 10 nominees who cannot be substituted due to withdrawal.

The filing of COCs and CONAs for the May 2025 elections will run from October 1 to 8. —with a report from Llanesca T. Panti/VBL, GMA Integrated News