Manila: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday announced that it has issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) stopping the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from enforcing its rulings to disqualify or reject the certificates of candidacy (COCs) of three more individuals seeking to run for different positions in the upcoming midterm elections.

According to Philippines News Agency, the tribunal stated that a TRO was issued to halt the poll body from revoking the COC of Francis Leo Marcos. The Comelec had previously ruled that Marcos did not demonstrate a genuine intent to run for office. Marcos, who has claimed unverifiable kinship with the family of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., was permitted to run for senator in the 2022 election, where he garnered 4,477,0254 votes.

In a separate ruling, the SC also issued a TRO in favor of dismissed Albay governor Noel Rosal, who alleged deliberate haste on the part of the poll body in disqualifying him. Rosal, who was elected governor of Albay in May 2022, was removed from office by the Office of the Ombudsman in June 2024 after being found guilty of grave misconduct, oppression, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. The Ombudsman's decision, which is immediately executory, includes the penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office and cancellation of eligibility. Rosal filed his COC in October 2024, seeking a new term as governor of Albay in the May 2025 elections.

On Monday, the high tribunal also issued a TRO in favor of Mandaue City, Cebu mayoralty candidate Jonas Cortes, preventing the Comelec from implementing its resolutions canceling his candidacy. SC spokesperson Camille Ting mentioned that the court had received around 25 petitions with requests for TROs from October 9, 2024, to the present. "The SC has acted on 10 cases plus the two today (Jan. 21), so, we still have a few pending, but we will just have to wait and see if the SC will issue (more) TROs," Ting said in a message to reporters.