The Supreme Court en banc has reversed a Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution, affirming Susan Areno Yap-Sulit as Tarlac City Mayor. The ruling comes after the Court's thorough review of evidence presented in the case.
In its notice of judgment, the Court stated that it respects and upholds the will of the electorate, even if a candidate is deemed ineligible. The Court found that there was no evidence to support the Comelec's claim of ineligibility.
The Comelec had canceled Ms. Yap-Sulit's candidacy and eligibility to run in the mayoral race last year over questions concerning her residency. The mayor later appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the commission had disregarded substantial evidence of her domicile and longstanding ties to Tarlac City.
The Supreme Court issued a status quo ante order on November 4, 2025, allowing the petitioner to continue performing her duties while the case was being resolved. On June 3, the Court deemed the evidence against Ms. Yap-Sulit insufficient to prove that she had abandoned her domicile in Tarlac or made a false representation in her certificate of candidacy.
The Court also noted Ms. Yap-Sulit's previous roles as governor of Tarlac for three consecutive terms and her deep personal, political, and community ties to the province.
Ms. Yap-Sulit has welcomed the decision, stating that it is a win not only for her administration but also for the people who trusted her leadership. She expressed gratitude to the justices for their careful and impartial review of the evidence and the law.
Ms. Yap-Sulit has a long history of public service, having been elected to represent the 2nd district of Tarlac in the Philippine House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016, and later becoming the province's governor for three consecutive terms.
She was elected as mayor of Tarlac City in 2025, beating the former mayor Cristy Angeles' husband, Victor Angeles.
