The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a status quo ante order reinstating Susan Yap-Sulit as mayor of Tarlac City, effectively halting her disqualification by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The high court said the order was released to “maintain the situation between the parties prior to the issuance of the Comelec En Banc resolution, while the case is pending.”
In October, the Comelec En Banc disqualified Yap-Sulit from the 2025 May elections, ruling that she failed to meet the one-year residency requirement to run for office. The ruling also rendered her ineligible to serve as mayor.
Yap-Sulit filed a petition for certiorari before the SC, seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) or status quo ante order to stop the implementation of the Comelec resolution.
The SC also directed the Comelec and other concerned parties to submit their comments on Yap’s petition within 10 days from notice, with no extensions allowed.
In a statement, Yap welcomed the decision, saying:
“I thank the Supreme Court for being the voice of rationality in what has seemed like a hasty plot to unseat me and reverse the will of the Tarlaqueños. This decision restores hope that the truth – and the people’s mandate – will prevail.”
The Comelec has yet to issue an official response to the Supreme Court’s order.
